What is Kaposi's Sarcoma?

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a form of cancer . It affects the blood vessels. It can cause lesions on the skin, mucus membranes, or internal organs. It occurs most commonly in the gastrointestinal tract and lungs.

Cancer occurs when cells in the body divide without control or order. If cells keep dividing uncontrollably, a mass of tissue forms. This is called a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant tumors. They can invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.

KS can be classified according to the group of people that it affects:

• Classic-usually affects men of Mediterranean descent
• Endemic-usually affects people living in equatorial Africa
• Transplant-related (acquired)-affects people who have received an organ transplant
• AIDS-related (epidemic)-affects people with AIDS