Last reviewed: 11 Jul 2024
Last updated: 05 Mar 2024
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- age >50 years
- male sex
- geographic location: central Africa or the Mediterranean
- HIV infection
- human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8, also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus [KSHV]) infection
- immunosuppression
- skin lesion
- oral lesion
- lymphadenopathy
- lymphedema
Full details
Other diagnostic factors
- weight loss
- abdominal pain
- gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
- diarrhea
- dyspnea
- hemoptysis
- chest pain
- fever
Full details
Risk factors
- male sex
- HIV infection
- immunosuppressive therapy
- human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8, also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus [KSHV]) infection
- central African ethnicity
- drug abuse
- Jewish ethnicity
- Mediterranean ethnicity
- age <5 years or >50 years
Full details
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- HIV test
- CBC and comprehensive metabolic panel
- skin/mucosal biopsy
Full details
Tests to consider
- chest x-ray
- chest CT and bronchoscopy
- CT abdomen/pelvis
- MRI
- fecal occult blood
- gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy
- PET scan
- lymph node biopsy
- renal function tests
- liver function tests
Full details
Emerging tests
- human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) viremia and serology
Treatment algorithm
ACUTE
epidemic (AIDS-related) KS
classic (sporadic) KS
iatrogenic (transplant-related) KS
endemic (observed in sub-Saharan Africa) KS
Contributors
Authors
David Aboulafia, MD
Attending Hematologist and Oncologist
Virginia Mason Clinical Professor of Medicine
Division of Hematology and Oncology
University of Washington
Seattle
WA
Disclosures
DA is the author of articles cited in this topic.
Acknowledgements
Dr David Aboulafia would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Liron Pantanowitz and Dr Bruce J. Dezube, previous contributors to this topic.
Peer reviewers
Justin Stebbing, MA, MRCP, MRCPath, PhD
Consultant Medical Oncologist/Senior Lecturer
Department of Medical Oncology
Imperial College/Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust
Charing Cross Hospital
London
UK
Disclosures
JS declares that he has no competing interests.
Thierry Simonart, MD, PhD
Physician
Department of Dermatology
Erasme University Hospital
Brussels
Belgium
Disclosures
TS declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Bacillary angiomatosis
- Pyogenic granuloma
- Dermatofibroma
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Guidelines for the use of antiretroviral agents in adults and adolescents with HIV
- Kaposi sarcoma treatment (PDQ)
More Guidelines
Log in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer