Classical (HIV-negative) cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma: a case report and a short review of the literature.
Classical Kaposi's sarcoma is a sporadic disease with a markedly higher incidence in the Mediterranean area. The two original forms of this disease, the Caucasian (classical) and the African, are now well-documented entities. The immunosuppression-related form is a new, recently described subset of the disease, arising from the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection and/or the widespread use of immunosuppressive treatments. Cutaneous lesions are the most common manifestation of classical Kaposi's sarcoma. The case described in the present report is characterised by a history of slowly evolving disease affecting the lower extremities without spread to thoracic or abdominal organs, a lengthy remission following initial radiation therapy, and local relapse with a further remission after a second course of radiation. Current treatments, in particular radiation therapy, achieve disease control or at least control of disease-related symptoms (mainly pain) in most cases, even when cure is not possible.
Sanna
P
P
Istituto Oncologico della Svizzera Italiana, Ospedale San Giovanni, Bellinzona. oncosg@siak.ch
Rosselli
M
M
Mainetti
C
C
Gilliet
F
F
Sessa
C
C
Bernier
J
J
Cavalli
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000821:virology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000821:virology