Anpheros Search · Condition

Kaposi Sarcoma

Also known as: Kaposi sarcoma of unspecified primary site · KS

General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).

In short

Kaposi sarcoma is a type of cancer caused by infection with human herpesvirus-8 that produces red, purple, or brown lesions in different parts of the body, such as the skin, lymph nodes, mucous membranes, and other organs. These lesions are made of cancer cells, new blood vessels, and blood cells, and they can begin in multiple places in the body at the same time. The condition is more likely to develop in people with weakened immune systems due to HIV or organ transplant medications, older men of Mediterranean or Eastern European Jewish heritage, and young men in Africa. While the lesions may not cause symptoms, they can lead to painful swelling in the legs, abdominal pain and diarrhea if they grow in the stomach or intestines, or shortness of breath if they grow in the lungs.

Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.

AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.

Codes

ICD-10: C46
ICD-11: 2B57.Z Kaposi sarcoma of unspecified primary site

Description

What is Kaposi sarcoma?
Kaposi sarcoma, sometimes called KS, is a type of cancer. It causes lesions (abnormal tissue) to grow in different parts of the body, including:
The skin
Lymph nodes
Mucous membranes (the lining of the mouth, nose, and throat)
Other organs
These lesions are usually red or purple. They are made of cancer cells, new blood vessels, and blood cells. The lesions may begin in more than one place in the body at the same time. This makes Kaposi sarcoma different from other cancers.
What causes Kaposi sarcoma and who is more likely to develop it?
Kaposi sarcoma is caused by infection with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). This virus is also called Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Most people infected with this virus don't get Kaposi sarcoma. But certain people who get this virus are more likely to develop one of the types of Kaposi sarcoma:
People with weakened immune systems due to HIV can develop epidemic (HIV-associated) Kaposi sarcoma.
People with weakened immune systems due to medicines they need to take after an organ transplant can develop iatrogenic (transplant-related) Kaposi sarcoma.
Older men of Mediterranean or Eastern European Jewish heritage can develop classic Kaposi sarcoma.
Young men in Africa can develop endemic (African) Kaposi sarcoma.
What are the symptoms of Kaposi sarcoma?
Kaposi sarcoma usually starts out as one or more red, purple, or brown skin lesions on the legs and feet. They are most often on the ankles or soles of the feet. Over time, lesions may form in other parts of the body. The lesions may not cause symptoms. But sometimes the lesions can cause problems, especially as you get more of them and they grow bigger. For example:
Pressure from the lesions may block the flow of lymph and blood in the legs and cause painful swelling
If lesions grow in your stomach or intestines, they can bleed and may cause abdominal (belly) pain and diarrhea
Lesions in the lungs can also bleed and may cause shortness of breath
How is Kaposi sarcoma diagnosed?
To find out whether you have Kaposi sarcoma, your health care provider:
Will ask about your medical and family history
Will do a physical exam
May order a chest x-ray to look for Kaposi sarcoma in the lungs
May do a biopsy to check for Kaposi sarcoma lesions in the skin
May do an endoscopy to check for Kaposi sarcoma in the stomach and intestines
May do a bronchoscopy to check for Kaposi sarcoma in the lungs
If you do have Kaposi sarcoma, you will likely need blood and imaging tests to find out if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
What are the treatments for Kaposi sarcoma?
Which treatment(s) you get will depend on
The type of Kaposi sarcoma you have
How many lesions you have and where in the body they are
What kinds of problems the lesions are causing
Your overall health
For people who have epidemic (HIV-associated) Kaposi sarcoma, taking HIV medicines may be enough to treat the Kaposi sarcoma. For people who have iatrogenic (transplant-related) Kaposi sarcoma, changing the dose of the medicines or switching medicines may be helpful. But some people with these types of Kaposi sarcoma will need additional treatment.
The treatment options for Kaposi sarcoma may include:
Radiation therapy
Surgery
Cryosurgery, a treatment that uses an instrument to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
NIH: National Cancer Institute

Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.

Related terms in the cited sources

Medicines with an official indication for this condition

Doxorubicin Treatment

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Next to it in ICD-10

Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.

External resources

Questions

What is the ICD-10 code for Kaposi Sarcoma?

C46 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).

What is the ICD-11 code for Kaposi Sarcoma?

2B57.Z: Kaposi sarcoma of unspecified primary site (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).

Sources and attribution

Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).

Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →

About this page. This page brings together public information from official sources, each cited where it is used. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it does not tell you which treatment to take.

Treatments. Indications are quoted unchanged from official product information (European Medicines Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration). They describe what a medicine is approved for, not whether it is right for you. Approved uses can differ between countries. Always read the package leaflet and follow your doctor's or pharmacist's advice.

What people report. Figures marked "reported by Anpheros users" are anonymous counts from at least 20 people who agreed to share them. They show what people report, not what works, and they are not clinical evidence.

Links between terms. "May be associated with" means the link appears in a cited source. It does not mean you have that condition.

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