Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related Kaposi's sarcoma of the male genitalia: management with radiation therapy.
Kaposi's sarcoma of the genitalia is an infrequent complication of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome but it often is difficult to manage. A total of 19 men (mean age 39 years) with penile and/or scrotal lesions underwent radiotherapy at dosages of 600 to 3,000 cGy. in fractions of 150 to 800 cGy. Of the patients 6 achieved a complete and 10 a partial response, while 2 had no response and 1 died too soon after treatment to be evaluated. Recurrences were noted in 8 patients, 7 of whom received additional radiation (1 patient had 2 recurrences and both responded). Of the retreatments 3 effected complete and 4 partial responses. Over-all, of 25 evaluable treatment courses 9 complete (36%) and 14 partial (56%) responses yielded a total response rate of 92%. There was 1 complication, a skin ulceration. Radiation therapy is well tolerated and will result in effective palliation in the majority of patients with Kaposi's sarcoma of the genitalia.
Vapnek
J M
JM
Department of Urology, University of California, School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143-0738.
Quivey
J M
JM
Carroll
P R
PR
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005834:Genital Neoplasms, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012611:Scrotum; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*