[Radiation therapy of Kaposi's sarcoma with accelerated electrons]

Kaposi's sarcoma and AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma resistant to chemotherapy were irradiated locally in 14 and 1 patient, respectively, and followed up for 1--6 years. The energy (10 MeV) in the total focal dose of 24--40 Gy was emitted as high-speed electrons from a medical accelerator. An immediate response was obtained in all the patients. The recurrence occurred in AIDS-associated sarcoma only. It is recommended that Kaposi's sarcoma should be treated by high-speed electron radiation covering the lesion and adjacent sites of the intact skin. Total focal dose must not exceed 30 Gy, in case of circulatory disturbances in the low limbs the dose is to be reduced to 20 Gy.