Clinical features of Kaposi's sarcoma: experience from a Taiwanese medical center

Abstract

Background Most of the previous reports regarding the clinical features of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) have been performed in Western and African countries. The clinical characteristics of KS have not been well defined in Han Chinese or Taiwanese patients. In this study, we analyzed the clinical features of KS patients in a Taiwanese medical center. Methods Medical records from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital over the past 20 years (1996–2016) were comprehensively reviewed. Results There were 55 patients with KS (50 males and 5 females), including 37 patients (67%) with classic disease, 17 patients (31%) with AIDS‐associated disease, and one patient (2%) with immunosuppressive medication‐related disease. The average age was 58.7 years (range 20–87 years), and the average age was younger for AIDS patients (33.8 years) compared with non‐AIDS patients (69.8 years). Among patients with classic KS, lesions were mostly localized to the lower extremities, whereas AIDS‐associated KS patients were more likely to develop disseminated skin lesions, skin lesions on atypical sites (head and neck, trunk), and extracutaneous involvement (particularly oral cavity). The most common underlying diseases were diabetes mellitus (20% of patients) and hepatitis B (15% patients), and 38% of KS patients were smokers. Patients with AIDS‐associated KS usually responded well to chemotherapy, whereas only 32% of patients with non‐AIDS‐associated KS showed complete response to radiotherapy. Conclusions The findings of the current study will serve as important references for clinicians in the diagnosis of KS and may form the basis for the implementation of KS clinical practice guidelines in Taiwan.

Demographic characteristics, treatment, and outcome of patients with Kaposi sarcoma: Ten‐year follow‐up results of a single center

“…Our demographic and clinical findings were more compatible with the results of the Taiwanese study 11 . Demographic characteristics were similar to those in Rescigno's study also 12 .…”

“…Our demographic and clinical findings were more compatible with the results of the Taiwanese study. 11 Demographic characteristics were similar to those in Rescigno's study also. 12 In the study done by Baykal et al from Turkey, it was emphasized that the classical type is seen most frequently as we had.…”

Prognostic factors for competing risk in patients with AIDS‐related Kaposi's sarcoma: A SEER population‐based study

“…This result is inconsistent with previous studies [40, 41], which reported an inverse association between cigarette smoking and KS development. However, a recent study detected a higher smoking prevalence (38%) in patients with KS, which indicates that smoking may not be protective against KS‐specific mortality [42]. Therefore, the relationship between smoking and KS mortality should be further investigated.…”

Rapid Progression of Kaposi’s sarcoma complicated with hemophagocytic syndrome in a severely immunosuppressed patient with HIV-infection: a case report

“…The abdominal CT scans showed splenomegaly before chemotherapy (c-1, c-2), but the size of the spleen decreased to normal (c-3, c-4) after chemotherapy The tumors can remain unchanged for months or years, or they may progress rapidly or disseminate within several weeks. The majority of KS lesions begin on the skin, but they may also appear on oral mucosa, lymph nodes, and internal organs, such as the lungs, liver, spleen, and gastrointestinal tract [3,4]. The clinical features of KS are lesions that are small papules at first, gradually forming pale red or dark purple plaques and nodules of different sizes.…”