Kaposi Sarcoma

Overview

At Mayo Clinic, patients with Kaposi sarcoma receive compassionate and comprehensive care from a team of physicians and health care professionals. This team includes dermatologists, oncologists, pathologists, infectious disease specialists and other specialists, when needed.

Diagnosis

Physicians at Mayo Clinic use the latest advances in imaging studies and biopsy techniques to diagnose Kaposi sarcoma. Read more about Kaposi sarcoma diagnosis.

Treatment Options

Advanced therapies such as Moh's surgery and cryotherapy (freezing) are used at Mayo Clinic to treat the symptoms of Kaposi sarcoma. Antiretroviral therapy, surgical excision, chemotherapy and radiation are also available. Read more about Kaposi sarcoma treatment options.

• Treatment in Arizona
• Treatment in Florida
• Treatment in Minnesota

About Kaposi Sarcoma

Sarcoma, a cancer of supportive tissue, can affect multiple organs, including the skin, muscle, cartilage, internal organs, nerves and bones. Researchers believe that Kaposi sarcoma develops from spindle cells (embryonic) that line the inside of lymph and blood vessels of the heart. It is the most common cancer found in HIV-positive people, especially gay and bisexual men, but Kaposi sarcoma is extremely rare in people not infected with HIV. It usually appears as pink, red or purple lesions on the skin and in the mouth. In people with darker skin, the lesions may look dark brown or black. Kaposi sarcoma can also affect internal organs, including the digestive tract and lungs.

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