Kaposis sarcoma

"Kaposi's sarcoma - Illnesses & conditions | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Cancer Cancer types in adults Kaposis sarcoma Kaposis sarcoma Kaposis sarcoma is a rare type of cancer caused by a virus. It can affect the skin and internal organs. Its mainly seen in people with a poorly controlled or severe HIV infection. It canalso affect some people who have a weakened immune system for another reason, as well as people who havea genetic vulnerability to the virus. Signs and symptoms The most common initial symptom is the appearance of small, painless, flat and discoloured patches on the skin or inside the mouth. Theyre usually red or purple and look similar to bruises. Over time, the patches may grow into lumps known as nodules and may merge into each other. Internal organs can also be affected, including thelymph nodes, lungs and the digestive system, whichcan cause symptoms such as: uncomfortable swelling in the arms or legs (lymphoedema) breathlessness , coughing up bloodand chest pain nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhoea The rate at which symptoms progress depends on the type of Kaposis sarcoma you have.Most types get worse quickly in a matter of weeks or months without treatment, but some progress very slowly over many years. When to seek medical advice You should speak to your GP if you have any worrying symptoms you think could be caused by Kaposis sarcoma.If you have HIV, you can also contact your local HIV clinicif you have any concerns. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and examine your skin to look for the characteristic discoloured patches. If they suspect Kaposis sarcoma, they will refer you for further tests to confirm the diagnosis. These tests may include: an HIV test  a blood test to confirm whether or not you have HIV (if you havent already been diagnosed with the condition) a skin biopsy  where a small sample of cells is removed from an affected area of skin andchecked for Kaposis sarcoma cells anendoscopywhere a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope is passed down your throat to see if your lungs or digestive system are affected a computerised tomography (CT)scan to see ifyour lymph nodes or other parts of your body are affected What causes Kaposis sarcoma? Kaposis sarcoma is caused by a virus called the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as the Kaposis sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). This virus is thought to bespread during sex, through saliva, or from a mother to her baby during birth. HHV-8 is a relatively common virus and the vast majority of people who have it will not develop Kaposis sarcoma.It only seems to cause cancer in some people with a weakened immune system and in some people who havea genetic vulnerability to the virus. A weakened immune system allows the HHV-8 virus to multiply to high levels in the blood, which increases the chance it will cause Kaposis sarcoma. Thevirusappears to alter the genetic instructions that control cell growth. This means some cells reproduce uncontrollably and form lumps of tissue known as tumours. Types of Kaposis sarcoma and their treatment There are 4 main types of Kaposis sarcoma. These types affect different groups of people and are treated in different ways. HIV-related Kaposis sarcoma Although its not as common as it used to be, Kaposis sarcoma is still one of the main types of cancer to affect people with HIV. HIV-related Kaposis sarcoma can progress very quickly if not treated. However, it can usually be controlled by taking HIV medication  known as combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)  to prevent HIV multiplying and allow the immune system to recover. The immune system can then reduce the levels of HHV-8 in the body. Read more about treating HIV . Some people may also require treatment with radiotherapy (where high-energy rays are usedto destroy cancer cells) or chemotherapy (where powerful medications are used to destroy cancer cells), depending on the site and extent of the cancer and what symptoms its causing. Classic Kaposis sarcoma Classic Kaposis sarcoma mainly affects middle-aged and elderly men of Mediterranean or Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Ashkenazi Jews are descended from Jewish communities that lived in central and eastern Europe. Most Jewish people inthe UKare Ashkenazi Jews. Its thought people who develop classic Kaposis sarcoma were born with a genetic vulnerability to the HHV-8 virus. Unlike the other types of Kaposis sarcoma,the symptoms of classic Kaposis sarcoma progress very slowly over many years and are usuallylimited to the skin. Immediate treatment isnt usually required because, in many cases, the condition doesnt affectlife expectancy. Youll usually be monitored carefully and only treated if the symptoms get significantly worse. Radiotherapy isoften used if treatment is required, although smallskin patches or nodules may be removed using minor surgery or cryotherapy (freezing). Transplant-related Kaposis sarcoma Transplant-related Kaposis sarcoma is a rare complication of an organ transplant.It occurs because the immunosuppressant medication used to weaken the immune system and help prevent the body rejecting the new organ can allow a previous HHV-8 infection to reactivate, which means levels of the virus increase as it starts multiplying again. Transplant-related Kaposis sarcoma can be aggressive and usually needs to be treated quickly. Itsnormally treated by reducing or stopping the immunosuppressants, if this is possible. If this is unsuccessful, radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be used. Endemic African Kaposis sarcoma Endemic African Kaposis sarcoma is common in parts of Africa and is one of the most widespread types of cancer in that region. Although this type of Kaposis sarcoma is classified separately from HIV-related Kaposis sarcoma, many cases may actually result from an undiagnosed HIV infection. All suspected cases thereforemust have an HIV test, as the most effective treatment in these cases is HIV medication. In cases not caused by HIV infection, this type of Kaposis sarcoma may be the result of a genetic vulnerability to HHV-8. These cases are usually treated with chemotherapy, although sometimes radiotherapy may be used. Outlook With proper treatment, Kaposis sarcoma can usually be controlled for many years. Deaths from the condition are uncommon in the UK. The discoloured patches of skin will often shrink and fade with treatment, although they may not ever disappear completely. A complete cure for any type of Kaposis sarcoma isnt always possible, and theres a chance the condition could recur in the future. If you think this is happening, contact your HIV clinic, hospital specialist or GP as soon as possible. Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 13 November 2023 How can we improve this page? Help us improve NHS inform Thank You Your feedback has been received Dont include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions. 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