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. CONCLUSION: 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.

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

“…Among all patients, classic KS was the most common (67%), followed by AIDS‐related (31%) and immunosuppressive medication‐related (2%) KS. This contrasts with previous reports from Caucasian and African populations showing AIDS‐associated KS as the most frequently observed form . We also found that the disease was more frequent in males compared with females (10 : 1 ratio), especially in the AIDS‐associated form where all patients were males.…”

Classic Kaposi’s sarcoma: The clinical, demographic and teratment characteristics of seventy-four patients

“…Hiçbir olgunun ailesinde KS tanısı bulunmuyordu. Hastaların özgeçmişine bakıldığında 11'inde (%14, 8) hipertansiyon, dokuzunda (%12,1) diyabet, dördünde hipertiroidi (%5,4), birinde hipotiroid (%1,3), iki (%2,7) hastada psoriasis vulgaris, birinde (%1,3) Behçet hastalığı bulunmaktaydı. Ayrıca iki hastada kolon kanseri, bir hastada ise prostat kanseri vardı.…”

“…İyi seyirli, düşük dereceli bir tümör olan KS'de tedavide esas amaçlar semptomları hafifletmek, hastalığın progresyonunu önlemek, hastalığa eşlik eden ödem, uyuşma, psikolojik stresi azaltmaktır. Cerrahi eksizyon, lokal tedaviler ve yaygın olgularda kemoterapi tercih edilebilir 6,8 . Ülkemizin de içinde bulunduğu coğrafyada nispeten sık görülen KKS ile ilgili ülkemizden bildirilen yeterli klinik çalışma bulunmamaktadır.…”

Evaluation of the relationship between c-Kit expression and mean platelet volume in classic Kaposi's sarcoma

“…1 There are 4 types with principally classified, defined according to histopathological characteristics (new vascular proliferation, erythrocyte extravasation, edema and mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration): classic, African (endemic), iatrogenic and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related. 2 In practice, KS generally presents as one or multiple, asymptomatic, red-purple or brown patches, plaques or nodular skin lesions in the lower extremities. 3 C-Kit is involved in cell signal transduction in many different cell types and it encodes tyrosine kinase receptor (CD117).…”