Kaposi's sarcoma on the back
Kaposi's sarcoma was once a rare malignancy of the blood vessels but is now associated with AIDS. It is more frequently associated with AIDS in homosexual men than AIDS in IV drug users. Recent research has suggested that this malignancy may be caused by a newly discovered herpes virus. The malignancy results in purplish, grape-like lesions in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.
Update Date: 9/28/2008 Updated by: 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.