KS

Q: Kaposi Sarcoma is usually very tender?

A) True

B) False

Answer: B

The most common form of KS is cutaneous. Common sites are lower extremities, nose, face, oral mucosa, and genitalia. They are usually elliptical in shape. Classically, they are arranged in a linear fashion along the skin tension lines. Also, frequently they are distributed symmetrically. 

KS are neither tender nor pruritic. Also, they do not cause necrosis of either overlying skin or underlying tissues. It can be of variety of colors such as pink, red, purple and brown. They can be of various sizes. Clinicians should be mindful of a varieties of KS, where they can be plaque-like, especially on the soles and thighs, or exophytic and fungating with breakdown of overlying skin.

Differential diagnosis includes purpura, hematomas, angiomas, dermatofibromas, and nevi. 

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References:

1. Cesarman E, Damania B, Krown SE, Martin J, Bower M, Whitby D. Kaposi sarcoma. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2019 Jan 31;5(1):9. doi: 10.1038/s41572-019-0060-9. PMID: 30705286; PMCID: PMC6685213.

2. Bishop BN, Lynch DT. Kaposi Sarcoma. 2022 Jun 11. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30521260.