Kaposi's sarcoma PIC

Kaposi's sarcoma In AIDS patient

Although Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a type of cancer it differs from other types of cancer in the way it develops. Unlike most cancers, which start in one place and may then spread around the body, KS can appear in several parts of the body at the same time. The most common site for KS is on the skin but it may also affect internal organs, particularly the lymph nodes, the lungs and parts of the digestive system.

Before the AIDS epidemic, KS usually developed slowly. In AIDS patients, though, the disease moves quickly. Treatment depends on where the lesions are and how bad they are. Treatment for the AIDS virus itself can shrink the lesions. However, treating KS does not improve survival from AIDS itself.