title: Radiation therapy in epidemic, AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma in southern Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) associated Kaposi's Sarcoma (EKS) is widely spread in the Southern African Region. No large studies concerning the role of radiation therapy in the Southern African variant of EKS have been reported to date.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a 10 year period (1982-1992) 25 patients with EKS (disseminated skin involvement) were treated primarily with radiation therapy at the Johannesburg General Hospital. Radiation fields were individually tailored to the extent of the disease. Total administered doses ranged between 8-12 Gy (single fraction) to 24-30 Gy fractionated over 2-3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall response and symptomatic relief rates were 72% and 80%, respectively. Toxicity was mild and manageable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our retrospective analysis supports the use of radiation therapy for the Southern African type of EKS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology & Hematology, University of the Witwatersrand, RSA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kantor
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lakier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lachter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ben-Yosef
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Bezwoda
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology