title: Silver nitrate for Kaposi's sarcoma nodules: A new look at an old treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fungating classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) tumors represent a therapeutic challenge given the increased risk of resistance to traditional local chemotherapy and the frequent concomitant skin infections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect and tolerability of silver nitrate cauterization in patients with fungating KS tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single arm, prospective study in patients with soft, fungating and/or oozing KS tumors cauterized with silver nitrate sticks. The application was repeated once every three weeks until the lesion became fibrous or after two consecutive applications without any clinical improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven patients (10 males, one female, mean age of 75.8 years) with at least one fungating KS tumor of the lower limbs were treated. Complete or partial resolution of the KS lesion was achieved in 91% of patients after an average of 2.1 treatments (range, 1-4 treatments).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fungating KS tumors can be treated simply, effectively and safely in the office with silver nitrate cauterization.
authors.affiliation: a U.O. Dermatologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.affiliation: a U.O. Dermatologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Athanasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tourlaki
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002425:Cautery / Q000379:methods; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012835:Silver Nitrate
keywords: Kaposi’s sarcoma; fungating nodule; silver nitrate cauterization; treatment