Kaposi's sarcoma

Abstract

Pulmonary KS may occur in up to 20 to 25 per cent of patients with cutaneous KS. The presenting symptoms of pulmonary KS are indistinguishable from those of opportunistic pathogens that cause pneumonia. It most frequently presents with the symptoms of cough or dyspnea; however, fever, hemoptysis, and stridor have been reported to occur secondary to pulmonary KS. Roentgenographically, pulmonary KS may present as diffuse infiltrates, nodal disease, and/or pleural effusions. The diagnosis is established by a characteristic histologic pattern obtained from large pieces of tissue, that is, from open lung biopsy or autopsy rather than from transbronchial biopsy. No effective therapy for pulmonary KS exists; however, short-term palliation may be achieved with radiotherapy or combination chemotherapy. In a patient with known pulmonary KS who develops either new or changing symptoms or new roentgenographic findings, an attempt should be made to rule out an associated infectious process.