Diagnosis
Taking a piece of skin for testing
A healthcare professional may recommend removing a small piece of a skin lesion for testing. This procedure is called a skin biopsy. The sample is sent to a lab for testing. Lab tests can look for signs of cancer.
A skin biopsy can confirm Kaposi sarcoma.
Testing for Kaposi sarcoma inside the body
Other tests might be needed to look for Kaposi sarcoma in the lungs or the digestive tract.
Tests to find Kaposi sarcoma in the digestive tract might include:
- Fecal occult blood test. This test detects hidden blood in stool. If it shows hidden blood, other tests might be needed to find the source. Other tests include an endoscopy or colonoscopy. These tests are used to see if Kaposi sarcoma is causing the bleeding.
- Endoscopy. In this test, a thin tube, called an endoscope, is passed through the mouth. It allows a healthcare professional to look at the esophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine.
- Colonoscopy. In this test, a thin tube called a colonoscope goes through the rectum and into the colon. It allows a health professional to look at the walls of these organs.
- CT scan. This imaging test uses X-rays to make detailed images of the inside of the body. A CT of the abdomen and pelvis can show the digestive tract.
Tests to find Kaposi sarcoma in the lungs might include:
- Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray might show something unusual in the lungs. If so, a CT scan of the chest or a bronchoscopy might be used to see if the unusual finding is Kaposi sarcoma.
- CT scan. This imaging test uses X-rays to make detailed images of the inside of the body. A CT scan of the chest can show the lungs.
- Bronchoscopy. In this test, a thin tube called a bronchoscope passes through the nose or mouth into the lungs. This allows for viewing the lining of the airway and taking samples of lung tissue.
Treatment
There's no cure for Kaposi sarcoma. But there are many treatment options that can help control it. Some people may not need treatment right away. Instead, the condition might be monitored to make sure it's not getting worse. Treatment depends on:
- The type of Kaposi sarcoma.
- The number of lesions and where they are.
- The effects of the lesions, such as causing pain or getting in the way of eating or breathing.
- Your overall health.
Treatment for AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma
Thanks to better antiviral medicines to treat AIDS and ways to prevent it, Kaposi sarcoma has become less common and less severe in people with AIDS. Taking antiviral medicines can lower the amount of the virus that causes HIV/AIDS and make the immune system stronger. This might be the only treatment needed for Kaposi sarcoma.
Treatment for transplant-related Kaposi sarcoma
Some people with transplant-related Kaposi sarcoma may be able to stop taking the medicines that are controlling the immune system or switch to another medicine.
Treatment for small skin lesions
Treatments for small skin lesions might include:
- Minor surgery, also called excision.
- Freezing treatment, called cryotherapy.
- Radiation therapy.
- An injection of the chemotherapy medicine vinblastine into lesions.
- Applying a medicine cream or gel to the skin.
Lesions treated in any of these ways are likely to return within a couple of years. When this happens, treatment often can be repeated.
Treatment if there are many skin lesions
If Kaposi sarcoma causes many skin lesions, other treatments might be needed, such as:
- Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses powerful energy beams to kill cancer cells. This is a treatment option if there are many skin lesions, but not enough to need chemotherapy.
- Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses strong medicines to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy might be an option when Kaposi sarcoma affects multiple parts of the body. For Kaposi sarcoma that's getting worse quickly, chemotherapy might help.
Preparing for your appointment
Start by seeing a doctor or other healthcare professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. If your health professional thinks you might have Kaposi sarcoma, you might need to see a specialist. Specialists who care for people with Kaposi sarcoma include:
- Doctors who treat conditions caused by infections, called infectious disease specialists.
- Doctors who treat skin conditions, called dermatologists.
- Doctors who treat cancer, called oncologists.
What you can do
When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance.
Make a list of:
- Your symptoms, including when you noticed the skin growth and how it may have changed over time.
- Key personal information, including your medical history, recent life changes and family medical history.
- All medicines, vitamins or other supplements you take, including the doses.
- Questions to ask your healthcare professional.
You may want to bring a friend or family member along to help you remember the information you're given.
For Kaposi sarcoma, some basic questions to ask include:
- What's likely causing my symptoms?
- Other than the most likely cause, what are other possible causes for my symptoms?
- What tests do I need?
- Does my condition have a cure?
- What's the best course of action?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Should I see a specialist?
- Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What websites do you recommend?
- What would happen if I choose not to have treatment?
Don't hesitate to ask other questions.
What to expect from your doctor
Your healthcare professional may ask questions about your symptoms, such as:
- When did your symptoms begin?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Jan. 03, 2025