Canadian Medical Guide > Diseases > Virus Diseases > DNA Virus Infections > Herpesviridae Infections > Sarcoma, Kaposi Terms and Definitions




Sarcoma, Kaposi

Medical Definition: 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.
Guide Notes: /blood supply /chem /second /secret /ultrastruct permitted; coord IM with precoord organ/neopl term (IM)

Sarcoma, Kaposi Medical Definitions and Terms

CANADIAN MEDICAL GUIDE

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