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Kaposi's sarcoma - Symptom

Symptoms:

The tumors appear as bluish-red or purple sores (lesions) on the skin. The color comes from the fact that they are rich in blood vessels.

The lesions may first appear on the feet or ankles, thighs, arms, hands, face, or any other part of the body. They also can appear on sites inside the body.

Other symptoms may include:

Bleeding from gastrointestinal lesions
Bloody sputum from lesions in the lung
Shortness of breath from lesions in the lung

Signs and tests:

The following tests may be performed to diagnose Kaposi's sarcoma:

Kaposi's sarcoma - lesion on the foot

Kaposi's sarcoma on the back

Kaposi's sarcoma - close-up

Kaposi's sarcoma on the thigh

Kaposi's sarcoma - perianal

Kaposi's sarcoma on foot

Reviewed last on: 9/28/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Volberding PA. Hematology and oncology in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 416.

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