KS lesions can resemble other skin conditions. A doctor may want to take a punch biopsy of tissue from the lesion to confirm the disorder. Under a microscope, KS cells have a distinctive shape and arrangement.
Approximately one in three people with AIDS-related KS will develop mouth and throat lesions. They can be found on the roof of the mouth, on the gums, tongue, tonsils, larynx, or trachea. These particular lesions may make eating, breathing, and swallowing uncomfortable.
Lesions are present in the gastrointestinal tract in about 40 to 50 percent of patients with AIDS-related KS at the time of diagnosis. KS lesions may develop in the rectum; a physician can detect them with a gloved-finger examination. Rectal lesions can also be diagnosed using an endoscope or sigmoidoscope.
Treatments for KS include: chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and biological therapy. The type of treatment used depends on the severity of the lesions, the type of KS present, the location of the lesions, and the presence and severity of other medical conditions, such as AIDS.
A doctor may surgically excise the lesion or use an electric probe to destroy the tissue with heat. Cryosurgery uses a supercold probe to freeze the tissue.
Biological therapy uses chemicals produced by the body to help the immune system attack cancer cells.
Treatment for AIDS-related KS can significantly reduce the pain and discomfort of the lesions. Treatment of this type of KS cannot produce a cure, and treatment for AIDS-related KS cannot prolong life. Treatment is usually localized and aimed at improving the patient’s appearance and reducing the social isolation and suffering AIDS can cause.
Intralesional injections of vinblastine, a chemotherapy drug, can improve lesions locally. Lesions found on the mouth and anus especially may improve significantly when treated with low-dose radiation therapy.
Because the majority of KS patients in the United States are HIV-positive, working to avoid HIV infection could prevent most cases of KS. Also, researchers are working on vaccines to prevent HIV infection. Until a vaccine is available, individuals are responsible for making sex safer.
