Diseases

Kaposi Sarcoma

A multicentric, malignant neoplastic vascular proliferation characterized by the development of bluish-red cutaneous nodules, usually on the lower extremities, most often on the toes or feet, and slowly increasing in size and number and spreading to more proximal areas. The tumors have endothelium-lined channels and vascular spaces admixed with variably sized aggregates of spindle-shaped cells, and often remain confined to the skin and subcutaneous tissue, but widespread visceral involvement may occur. Kaposi's sarcoma occurs spontaneously in Jewish and Italian males in Europe and the United States. An aggressive variant in young children is endemic in some areas of Africa. A third form occurs in about 0.04% of kidney transplant patients. There is also a high incidence in AIDS patients. (From Dorland, 27th ed & Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, pp2105-7) HHV-8 is the suspected cause.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A multicentric, malignant neoplastic vascular proliferation characterized by the development of bluish-red cutaneous nodules, usually on the lower extremities, most often on the toes or feet, and slowly increasing in size and number and spreading to more proximal areas. The tumors have endothelium-lined channels and vascular spaces admixed with variably sized aggregates of spindle-shaped cells, and often remain confined to the skin and subcutaneous tissue, but widespread visceral involvement may occur. Kaposi's sarcoma occurs spontaneously in Jewish and Italian males in Europe and the United States. An aggressive variant in young children is endemic in some areas of Africa. A third form occurs in about 0.04% of kidney transplant patients. There is also a high incidence in AIDS patients. (From Dorland, 27th ed & Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, pp2105-7) HHV-8 is the suspected cause.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

5 entry terms
  • Kaposi's Sarcoma
  • Multiple Idiopathic Pigmented Hemangiosarcoma
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi
  • Kaposis Sarcoma
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi's

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

39 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, blood supply, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, chemistry, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, secondary, surgery, therapy, ultrastructure, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

coordinate IM with precoordinated organ/ neoplasm term (IM)

MeSH Record

History Note

98; was SARCOMA, KAPOSI'S 1963-97; KAPOSI SARCOMA was KAPOSI'S SARCOMA 1963-97

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C01w.925w.256.466.860w
  2. C04w.557.450.795w.850w
  3. C04w.557.645w.750w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Kaposi Sarcoma. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D012514. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D012514
  2. Kaposi Sarcoma. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaposi%27s_sarcoma
  3. Kaposi Sarcoma. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q725345