Kaposi's Sarcoma: Demographic and Clinical Features, Histopathology, Treatment, and Outcomes in a 10-Year Lisbon...

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare angioproliferative neoplasm associated with human herpesvirus 8 infection, presenting as four subtypes: classic, endemic, iatrogenic, and epidemic. While well documented globally, comprehensive data on KS in Portugal remain scarce. The aim of this retrospective study was to provide a detailed analysis of KS cases diagnosed at Hospital Santa Maria, in Lisbon, between 2014 and 2023.

A total of 113 histopathologically confirmed KS cases were included, focusing on demographic, clinical, and histopathological characteristics, as well as treatment strategies and outcomes.

The mean age at diagnosis was 59.4 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 4.4:1. Most patients (50.4%) were of African origin. Epidemic KS (45.1%) was the most prevalent subtype. Lesions mainly affected the lower limbs (47.8%), and disseminated, mucosal, and extracutaneous involvement were more common in HIV-positive patients. Tumor-stage lesions were frequent (59.3%). Single-modality treatment was used in 53.1% of cases, while 40.7% required combined therapies. Relapse rates were highest in endemic (39.1%) and iatrogenic KS (28.6%) subtypes. The disease-specific mortality rate was 8%.

Our findings suggest that KS remains a significant concern, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. Early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management are essential to improve outcomes. However, limitations such as potential biases from its retrospective design and the single-center scope should be considered.