title: Kaposi's sarcoma: clinical and pathological aspects in patients seen at the Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio Moraes - Vitória - Espírito Santo - Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kaposi's sarcoma is a neoplasm of endothelial origin that is divided into four distinct types according to the clinical characteristics and the affected population: Classic (in elder men of Jewish or Mediterranean origin); Epidemic (in patients affected by AIDS); Endemic (in black African men) and Iatrogenic (in patients under immunosuppressive regimens). Human herpesvirus 8 infection is essential but not sufficient for the sarcoma development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the epidemiological, clinical and histopathological aspects of patients with KS seen at the Dermatology Clinic -Cassiano Antônio Moraes University Hospital - Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitória - ES.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive and retrospective study based on clinical charts of patients with KS seen at the Dermatology Clinic from 1986 to 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the 15 cases were male patients (93,3%) and white (60%). Epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma occurred in 80%, and the Classic form in 20%, with no cases in the Endemic or Iatrogenic groups. All the histopatho logical exams of the cutaneous lesions were reviewed and a proliferation of fusiform cells, extravasated erythrocytes and vascular rifts among the largest vessels, assuming the "vessels in vessels" typical aspect, were seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of cases of Kaposi's Sarcoma was linear throughout the years of the study, especially of the epidemic form, although the incidence and prevalence of AIDS increased in the state of Espírito Santo. Therefore, if we consider the relation between KS and AIDS, a decreasing line of Kaposi's sarcoma could be seen, especially after the introduction of HAART.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Service, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil. tiussiricardo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ricardo Montibeler
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tiussi
authors.forename: Antonio Luiz de Oliveira
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Caus
authors.forename: Lucia Martins
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Elton Almeida
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lucas
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult