Epidemic of Kaposi's sarcoma in the Nuba Mountain: fact or fiction

ABSTRACT

Kaposi's sarcoma [KS] is a complex neoplasm characterized by angio-proliferative multifocal tumors of the skin, mucosa and viscera. There are four different epidemiological forms of KS classic [sporadic] [cKS], African [endemic], AIDS-associated [epidemic], and immunosupression-associated [iatrogenic]. In this paper we report for the first time types of Kaposi's sarcoma from the Nuba Mountains as seen in Dermatology Military Hospital. Clinical features and confirmative tests were done for six patients. Three, two and one cases were AIDS rated, endemic type and iatrogenic type of Kaposi's sarcoma respectively. We report a series of Kaposi's sarcoma in six Sudanese patients. Mean age 66.7 year, five of them were males and a female. The AIDS associated KS patients showed good response to management and are under follow-up on HAART. The endemic type cases have been improved with chemotherapy. The single case of iatrogenic KS could not be traced