Kaposi's sarcoma
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) iskindsarcoma;diseasewhich cancerous cellsfound intissues underskin or mucous membranes. It causes red, purple or even black blotcheslesionscan spreadother organss inbody, oftenrespiratory system or gastrointestinal system.The diseasenamed after Moritz Kaposi (1837-1902), an Hungarian dermatologist who first describedsymptoms1872.
Untilearly 1980s, Kaposi's Sarcoma was very rarefound mainlyolder menMediterranean or African origin (Classic KS) or patients who had organ transplants (Immunosuppressive treatment related KS). WithimpactAIDShas become more common (Epidemic KS).
KnowledgeKaposi's Sarcoma enteredawareness ofgeneral public withrelease offilm Philadelphia,which Tom Hanks portrayedlawyer who was fired after his employers found out he was HIV-Positive duevisible lesions.
Becausetheir highly visible nature, external lesionssometimespresenting symptomHIV infection. Unfortunately, bytime lesions appearbody's immune system has already been greatly weakened. HIVnot fatalanditself, but weakenscan eventually destroybody's natural immune system, allowing Kaposi'sother kinds"opportunistic infection" which appear whenimmune system has become ineffective.
External lesionsnot often fatal. Internal lesions which affectinternal organsmuch more often fatal. With recent medical advances, however, Kaposi's has become less common.
See also: Taxol
