Kaposi's sarcoma: clinical features, experience in Uganda

In Uganda, Kaposi's sarcoma is predominantly a disease of the male African with a male:female ratio of 13:1. It is a multifocal disease and all parts of the body may be involved. When confined to the skin in the form of nodular tumour, it runs a slow 'benign' course. The florid, the visceral and bone lesions in adults and lymphadenopathy in children are malignant lesions. The three histological types are useful in determining prognosis and choosing drugs for treatment. A change from benign to malignant forms is associated with loss of cellular immunological status of the host.