Spindle Cell Sarcoma

Kaposi's sarcoma appears as red-purple spots (macules) and bumps (papules and nodules). They are usually the first on the skin, usually on the legs or feet. They also occur in the mouth. Initially, the lesions are small and painless, but they may ulcerate and become painful. Their visible presence can cause anxiety. Kaposi sarcoma lesions can also occur internally, in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, genitals and lymphatic system. These lesions may cause symptoms such as discomfort in swallowing, bleeding, shortness of breath, swollen legs, etc.

The exact cause of KS is not fully elucidated. From the beginning, we thought that KS is a form of cancer. However, scientists now believe it is caused by the herpes virus HHV8. And since HHV8 can be transmitted through sexual contact, the risk of developing KS is supposed to be transmitted from one person to another as well. The health of a person's immune system seems to have some impact on whether KS will develop.

In fact, KS has also been identified in HIV-negative transplant patients who received organs immunosuppressive therapy. The good news is that while KS is common, the incidence appears to decrease.
Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancer that causes patches of abnormal tissue to grow under the skin, the lining of the mouth, nose and throat or other organs. The spots are usually red or purple and are made of cancer cells and blood cells. The red spots and purple do not cause symptoms, but they can be painful. If the cancer spreads to the digestive system and lungs, bleeding can occur. Lung tumors can make breathing difficult.

Transplant-related Kaposi's (or acquired) sarcoma develops in people whose immune systems were suppressed after an organ transplant. Typically, a transplant patient must take drugs to prevent the immune system to reject the newly transplanted organ. Because these drugs weaken the body's defenses, other diseases or infections can take root. Kaposi's sarcoma is 150-200 times more likely to develop in the transplanted than in the general population. Often, transplant-related KS affects only the skin. In some cases, however, the disease can spread to the mucous membranes or other organs.
Before the AIDS epidemic, KS generally developed slowly.

In AIDS patients, however, the disease moves quickly. Treatment depends on where the lesions are and how they are bad. Treatment for the AIDS virus itself can reduce injuries. However, KS therapy does not improve survival from AIDS itself.

KS is caused by excessive proliferation of spindle cells appear to have an origin of endothelial cells. Molecular studies suggest that KS originates from a single cell clone rather than a multifocal origin. Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) genome sequences were identified by PCR in 90% of all types of KS lesions (including endemic and epidemic forms), suggesting a causal role. These sequences have also been associated with body cavity based lymphomas, Castleman disease, and leiomyosarcomas that occur in people infected with HIV.

Kaposi's sarcoma consists of characteristic skin lesions that range from flat to raised purple plaques. These tumors have a rich network of small blood vessels and red blood cells moving slowly through these channels lose their oxygen, changing from red to blue. The mixture of red and blue gives the KS lesion a characteristic purple color. There are several forms of KS, based on cause rather than appearance. The "classic" Kaposi's sarcoma, found primarily in males of the Mediterranean and mid-European Jews, has always been rare.