[Characteristics of Kaposi's sarcoma. A retrospective study in a reference hospital]

Kaposi's angiosarcoma (SK) is a vascular tumour that affects skin and other organs. Nowadays there is thought that immunosuppression is one of the factors related with its genesis.

Show the information corresponding to the distribution of the SK, proportion of subtypes, evolution and therapeutic used.

A 28 cases retrospective study. We obtained the personal background, habits, origin of the VIH when the SK was associated with AIDS, and treatment carry out. Type of SK and location, cutaneous presentation, complications and B symptoms. Treatment, response and adverse effects. Progression of the disease, average time of relapse and survival, and presence of the SK at death.

64% epidemic, 21% classic type and 14% associated with transplants. In 48% of the epidemic cases, the VIH assumed to homosexual habits and 18% to being ADVP. In all there was cutaneous affectation, 46% had affectation of mucouses, 11% adenopathies and 14% visceral extension. 71% received treatment: 40% chemotherapy, 35% radiotherapy and 18% cryotherapy. Progression: 11% became stable, in 50% there was local extension and systemic in 17%. The average survival was of 4.16 +/- 3 years.

SK has a minor incidence in the homosexual population. The high proportion of classic and transplants associated affirm the role of immunosuppression as a predisposing factor. There were numerous local complications that were associated with B symptoms. The cryotherapy was used as the first option in the located forms and in the widespread ones was the chemotherapy.