Kaposi's sarcoma: a population-based cancer registry descriptive study of 57 consecutive cases diagnosed between 1977...

There are few epidemiological data available on rare skin cancer, including Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), which is a multifocal illness affecting the skin, mucosa, and viscera. Four different types of KS have been described: classic, AIDS-associated, iatrogenic, and African. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology and evolution of the different types of KS in the Doubs region of France.

A retrospective population-based study was conducted, including 57 patients with KS from the Doubs region between 1977 and 2009. These patients were identified by the tumor registry of the Doubs region.

A larger proportion of AIDS-associated KS (61%) was observed compared to classic KS (30%) and iatrogenic KS (9%). No cases of African KS were observed. Most new cases were observed between 1987 and 1996 due to the AIDS explosion. The patients were predominantly male, with a male/female ratio at 10 : 4 (34 for AIDS-associated KS). The mean age of patients was 50.2 (higher in classic and iatrogenic KS and lower in AIDS-associated KS). Mucosal and visceral forms were more common in AIDS-associated KS, explaining the higher rate of mortality due to KS (21%).

KS, which used to be a rare illness, as it existed only in the classic form, has become more common since the appearance of HIV and, to a lesser extent, of immunosuppressive treatment.