{"id":1292,"date":"2022-08-18T12:16:43","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T12:16:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/?p=1292"},"modified":"2022-10-20T11:41:23","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T11:41:23","slug":"what-is-kaposi-sarcoma-everything-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/omar-rashid\/what-is-kaposi-sarcoma-everything-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Kaposi Sarcoma? Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kaposi’s sarcoma is defined as a malignancy where the cancer cells spread either on the skin or the mucous membranes that line the GI or gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth, through the stomach, intestines, all the way to the anal opening.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most often, sarcoma cancer tumors appear as nodules or small purple patches on the membranes and skin. They can also spread to the lymph nodes and other organs. Generally, it’s more typical in men and in people who have a weakened immune system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we’ll talk about the most common symptoms of the disease, cover options regarding <\/span>sarcoma treatment<\/span><\/a>, and other valuable information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please, read on.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sarcoma Cancer Causes<\/b><\/h2>\n

Kaposi sarcoma is exclusively caused by human herpesvirus 8, or Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) invections. The virus comes from the same family as the Epstein-Barr virus, which is relatively rare in the US, with less than one percent of the US population being virus carriers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The virus (as well as Kaposi sarcoma) is generally more common in other parts of the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

As of now, it’s poorly understood how someone acquires the virus, and scientists have managed to gather only some evidence regarding how KSHV is acquired and what might trigger the emergence of cancerous cells in the carriers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kaposi Sarcoma Risk Factors<\/b><\/h2>\n

As mentioned above, patients must be infected with the KSHV virus to develop this sarcoma cancer. Still, we must also state that most patients who carry the virus will never actually develop cancer. The malignancy usually occurs in HIV-positive patients with weakened immune systems, people who received organ transplants, or whose immune systems became weak from various other reasons (in some cases, even age).<\/span><\/p>\n

Kaposi Sarcoma Types<\/b><\/h2>\n

Generally, the malignancy may appear in four different cases, and the route of the Kaposi sarcoma treatment will partly depend on the setting in which the cancer developed.<\/span><\/p>\n

AIDS-Related Kaposi Sarcoma<\/b><\/h2>\n

Most cases of KS in the US are related to HIV in KSHV-infected patients. As a matter of fact, HIV-positive men who have sexual relations with other males are at a greater risk of getting Kaposi sarcoma. Experts presume that sexual transmission may be behind the infection, but the virus is usually detected in saliva, not semen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kaposi sarcoma was most prevalent during the AIDS epidemic in the US. Still, since then, it has become less common, with about concerning only six individuals per one million people each year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mediterranean or Classic Kaposi Sarcoma<\/b><\/h2>\n

This subtype of sarcoma cancer is most prevalent in older males of Middle Eastern, Eastern European, and Mediterranean descent. KSHV infections are more prevalent in these parts of the world, but experts still don’t have a conclusive answer to why infection rates are higher here.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scientists believe that Kaposi tumors (like in the case of other subtypes) form because of a weakened immune system, mainly as a result of old age.<\/span><\/p>\n

African or Endemic Kaposi Sarcoma<\/b><\/h2>\n

KSHV infections are more prevalent in some parts of Equatorial Africa, also increasing the risk of the development of Kaposi sarcoma. As in the case of Classic Sarcoma, experts presume that the virus spreads through saliva from the mother to the child.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Transplant-Related Kaposi Sarcoma<\/b><\/h2>\n

Patients who receive bone marrow or organ transplants will also have to take immunosuppressant drugs to stop their own immune system from attacking the new organ. When the patient is already infected with the KSHV virus, they are at a greater risk of developing KS.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kaposi Sarcoma Symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n

The signs of the malignancy may show as:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n