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[Chemotherapy for pulmonary metastases of soft tissue sarcoma].

The role and value of chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcomas remain unclear. Seventeen patients with pulmonary metastatic soft tissue sarcomas underwent treatment with chemotherapy, and the clinical efficacy and prognosis were studied. Six patients with synovial sarcomas, 4 with malignant fibrous histiocytomas, 4 with neurosarcomas, and the remaining 3 patients with leiomyosarcoma, extraskeletal osteosarcoma, and extraskeletal chondrosarcoma, were studied. Cases with small round cell sarcomas were excluded. The chemotherapy agents were ifosfamide in 10 cases, combination of ifosfamide and adriamycin in 5 cases, or cisplatin and adriamycin in 2 cases. Of the 17 patients, seven had partial responses radiographically and five had pulmonary metastases from synovial sarcoma. Eight patients underwent resection of pulmonary metastases following chemotherapy, and they were found to be residual tumor cells histologically. Twelve of the patients died of disease at 6-108 months (median, 30 months) from the time of the initial therapy, and five patients have survived from 1-53 months (median, 30 months). The absolute three-year survival rate, according to the Kaplan-Meier method, for all 17 patients was 39%. In the two cases with no change and progressive disease, all patients were dead within 2 years, while in the seven partial response cases, two patients were dead, four were alive with pulmonary metastases, and only one case was disease-free at this writing. The survival rate for patients with partial response was significantly higher than for patients with no response. Although the cure rate of pulmonary metastatic soft tissue sarcomas is still low, the combination of chemotherapy and surgery has been shown to result in prolonged survival.

Adult↗

Moloney murine sarcoma virus 349 induces Kaposi's sarcomalike lesions in Balb/c mice.

Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MoMuSV349) is produced by MuSV349 cells in at least eight-fold excess over the replication-competent helper virus. Less than 48-hours-old Balb/c mice inoculated intraperitoneally with supernatant from MuSV349 cells containing approximately 10(4) MuSV349 infectious units developed clinical symptoms, including severe generalized wasting, 15 to 20 days after inoculation. These infected mice became moribund 35 to 45 days after inoculation. Gross examination of the bodies revealed the presence of cutaneous and subcutaneous 0.2-cm to 1.5-cm macules, plaques, or nodules located predominantly on the ventral abdomen and legs. Nodules also were found in the spleen, liver, ovaries, testes, meninges, nerves, and skin. The nodules were semisoft, cystic, or solid and some expressed variable amounts of blood. Histologic examination of the macules, plaques, and nodules showed spindlelike cells intermingled with tortous, jagged vascular channels lined by plump and normal endothelial cells and unlined slitlike spaces filled with erythrocytes. These angiomatous lesions were infiltrated extensively with neutrophils, lymphocytes, macrophages, and some plasma cells. In some cases the lesions also included foci of densely packed eosinophils. These angiomatous lesions are clearly distinguishable from the fibrosarcomas induced by the myeloproliferative sarcoma virus (MPSV), and resemble the sarcomas induced in mice by Gz-MSV and Balb MSV, the sarcomas induced in rats by MPSV and Ha-MSV, and the acute generalized form of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in humans. Electron microscopy also revealed the presence of numerous extracellular type C virions and virions budding from the plasma membrane of endothelial and spindlelike cells. Erythrophagocytosis by the endothelial and spindlelike cells was demonstrated by light and electron microscopy. The widely disseminated lesions appear to have developed simultaneously as a consequence of viremia rather than metastasis.

Animals↗

Kaposi sarcoma of the conjunctiva and eyelids associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Three studies were performed to assess more accurately the prevalence, natural history, and appropriate treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi sarcoma involving ocular structures. The first study was a prospective examination of 100 male homosexuals with AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma for signs of ophthalmic involvement. Of the 20 patients who had ophthalmic lesions, 16 had eyelid lesions and seven had conjunctival lesions. In four patients, the ophthalmic lesion was the first, and initially the only, clinically identified manifestation of Kaposi sarcoma. The second study was a retrospective review of all patients with ophthalmic Kaposi sarcoma examined at one institution over a six-year period to determine its natural history and response to therapy. Most lesions were slowly progressive and responded to systemic drug therapy. Six patients were successfully treated with radiation therapy to prevent complications. The third study was a retrospective review of all patients with AIDS-related ophthalmic Kaposi sarcoma treated with local irradiation by one radiation oncologist. Each of 12 patients showed a response to treatment, and ten had a complete resolution of lesions, but recurrences were common. Side effects included skin erythema in six patients and hair loss in one patient. For local treatment of ophthalmic Kaposi sarcoma, irradiation appears to be safe and effective for palliative therapy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Primary sarcomas of the major salivary glands.

Sarcomas arising in the major salivary glands are rare. This article presents the clinicopathologic features of 11 patients with primary sarcomas of the parotid gland (eight men and three women aged 7 to 75 years; mean age, 42 years). The 11 sarcomas were histologically typified as follows: three malignant fibrous histiocytomas and two each of neurosarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, fibrosarcomas, and osteosarcomas. Four patients experienced disease recurrences, and seven patients developed metastases. Seven patients died of their sarcomas, with a mean survival time of 30 months. Four patients were alive from 5 to 12 years (one each with angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and neurosarcoma). Prognosis correlated with size of the neoplasm, type of sarcoma, and histologic grade. In this respect, salivary gland sarcomas behaved in identical fashion to their soft-tissue counterparts.

Adult↗

Results of a single-center experience with resection and ablation for sarcoma metastatic to the liver.

HYPOTHESIS: A subset of patients with sarcoma liver metastasis may benefit from hepatic resection and/or ablation. DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospectively collected cancer center database records. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients who underwent hepatic resection and/or open radiofrequency ablation of metastatic sarcoma between July 1, 1996, and April 30, 2005, were identified from the database. Clinicopathologic, operative, recurrence, and long-term survival data were analyzed. RESULTS: The primary sarcoma site was the abdomen or retroperitoneum (n = 22), stomach (n = 18), small or large bowel (n = 17), pelvis (n = 4), uterus (n = 3), or other (n = 2). Tumor pathologic types included gastrointestinal stromal tumor (n = 36), leiomyosarcoma (n = 18), and sarcoma not otherwise classified (n = 12). Thirty-five patients underwent resection, 18 underwent resection plus radiofrequency ablation, and 13 underwent radiofrequency ablation only. With a median follow-up of 35.8 months, 44 patients (66.7%) had recurrence (intrahepatic only, n = 16; extrahepatic only, n = 11; both, n = 17). Treatment with radiofrequency ablation (either alone or combined with resection) (P = .002) and lack of adjuvant chemotherapy (P = .01) predicted shorter disease-free survival. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 91.2%, 65.4%, and 27.1%, respectively. Patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor who were treated with adjuvant imatinib mesylate had the longest median survival (not reached) (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survival can be achieved following surgical treatment of sarcoma liver metastasis, especially in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Patients with sarcoma liver metastasis should be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, as recurrence is common and adjuvant therapy may prolong survival.

Adult↗

Radiation-associated sarcoma of bone and soft tissue.

Radiation-associated sarcomas are uncommon, constituting less than 5% of all sarcomas, and generally associated with a poor prognosis. We reviewed the medical records of 565 patients with sarcoma and a second malignancy seen at our institution between 1943 and 1989; 160 of these patients (28%) were considered to have a radiation-associated sarcoma. The most common diagnosis for which radiation had been given was breast cancer (26%), followed by lymphoma (25%) and carcinoma of the cervix (14%). The most common histologic types of radiation-associated sarcoma were osteogenic (21%), malignant fibrous histiocytoma (16%), and angiosarcoma/lymphangiosarcoma (15%). Most of the tumors were high grade (87%). Three variables had prognostic significance in multivariate analysis: the presence of metastatic disease, the completeness of operative resection in patients with localized disease, and the size of the primary tumor in patients who underwent complete resection of the sarcoma. Survival was independent of histologic subtype or site of disease.

Adolescent↗

Uterine sarcoma in the south of Israel: study of 36 cases.

BACKGROUND: Uterine sarcomas are rare, charaterized by rapid clinical progression and poor prognosis, and their management has been a challenge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and histologic findings, treatment, and outcome of patients with uterine sarcoma in the south of Israel. METHODS: Data from the files of 36 patients with uterine sarcoma who were managed at the Soroka Medical Center between January 1961 and December 1994 were evaluated. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate was 32% overall; 63% for 9 patients with endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). 30% for 14 patients with mixed mesodermal sarcoma (MMS) and 18% for 13 patients with leiomyosarcoma (LMS): 41% for 22 patients with Stage I and 19% for 14 patients with Stages II, III, and IV. Only the difference in the 5-year survival rate between ESS and LMS was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Eleven patients (30.6%) were treated with surgery alone, 4 (11.1%) with surgery followed by pelvic radiotherapy, 11 (30.6%) with surgery followed by chemotherapy, 8 (22.2%) with surgery followed by pelvic radiotherapy and chemotherapy, one (2.8%) with chemotherapy alone, and one (2.8%) had no treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Uterine sarcomas are aggressive tumors with a poor prognosis. The treatment is surgery generally followed by adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy and/or systemic chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Extremity soft tissue sarcoma with metastases to abdominopelvic surfaces.

BACKGROUND: In a majority of patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma, the lungs are the first site at which recurrent disease is detected. Other common sites of recurrence are the resection site, bone metastasis, and liver metastasis. Although abdomino pelvic sarcomatosis is common as a site of recurrence for visceral and retroperitoneal sarcoma, it has not been previously reported for extremity sarcoma. METHOD: We present three patients in whom extremity soft tissue sarcoma metastasized to the peritoneal surfaces, and in all three patients this was symptomatically the dominant site for recurrence. All of them underwent a palliative surgical cytoreduction and were then treated with intraperitoneal chemotherapy. RESULTS: In two of the three patients, isolated progression of peritoneal sarcomatosis has again occurred: one patient remains disease free at 14 months. CONCLUSIONS: Metastasis to peritoneal surfaces within the abdomen and pelvis must be considered a possible site for systemic dissemination of extremity soft tissue sarcomas. Effective treatments for sarcoma spread to peritoneal surfaces would benefit this small but symptomatic group of patients.

Adult↗

Chromosomal rearrangement t(11;22) in extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumour analysed by fluorescence in situ hybridization using paraffin-embedded tissue.

The clonal chromosomal rearrangement t(11;22) has been reported by karyotypic analysis to be specific for Ewing's sarcoma of bone and soft tissue origin as well as primitive neuroectodermal tumour. In this report, immunohistological analysis of MIC 2 expression and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed using paraffin-embedded tissues. We examined t(11;22) in the nuclei isolated from two Ewing's sarcomas, four primitive neuroectodermal tumours, and three neuroblastomas, which served as negative controls by FISH with an alpha-satellite DNA probe for chromosome 11, a chromosome 22 marker probe, and whole chromosome painting probes for both chromosomes 11 and 22. Both cases of Ewing's sarcoma and the four primitive neuroectodermal tumour specimens were immunoreactive for MIC 2. Both Ewing's sarcomas and three of the four primitive neuroectodermal tumours contained the tumour-specific t(11;22), but the three neuroblastomas did not show this translocation. Based on the cytogenetic results and on the immunohistological investigation of MIC 2 expression, Ewing's sarcoma is suggested to be related closely to primitive neuroectodermal tumour. FISH is a useful aid in determining the tumour type of Ewing's sarcoma and putative related tumours.

12E7 Antigen↗

Cytogenetics as an adjunct in establishing a definitive diagnosis of synovial sarcoma by fine-needle aspiration.

BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcomas account for up to 10% of all soft tissue sarcomas and are characterized by a specific chromosomal abnormality, t(X; 18)(p11.2; q11.2), that is observed in both monophasic and biphasic variants. METHODS: A 9-cm suprascapular mass in a 43-year-old man and a 10-cm leg mass in a 45-year-old man were aspirated. Rapid evaluation of air-dried Diff-Quick-stained smears in both cases showed a malignant spindle cell lesion. Cytogenetic material was collected in RPMI 1640 tissue culture medium. Additional alcohol-fixed slides and cell blocks were prepared on both cases. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on paraffin embedded cell block sections in both cases whereas electron microscopic examination was performed in one case. G-banded chromosome preparations from tumor cells were made after short term culture using standard cytogenetic techniques. RESULTS: Evaluation of the smears showed densely cellular and tightly cohesive malignant spindle cells without discernible epithelial differentiation. A differential diagnosis of synovial sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, malignant schwannoma, and fibrosarcoma was considered. Immunohistochemical stains and electron microscopy were noncharacteristic and noncontributory in establishing a diagnosis. However, cytogenetic results revealed a t(X; 18)(p11.2; q11.2) translocation, thus establishing the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma. Both patients were offered definitive therapy based on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosis only. CONCLUSIONS: FNA can be used effectively to obtain karyotypes of sarcomas. The specific cytogenetic abnormality associated with synovial sarcoma provides an opportunity to make definitive diagnoses using a combination of FNA and cytogenetics, obviating open surgical biopsy preceding therapy.

Adult↗

Expression of interleukin 15 (IL-15) in human rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma.

Interleukin 15 (IL-15) is a recently discovered cytokine that stimulates lymphocyte proliferation and migration via a trimeric receptor sharing the beta and gamma signal transducing chains with the IL-2 receptor. IL-15 is typically produced by normal cells that do not release IL-2, but little information is currently available on human tumors. To assess whether human musculo-skeletal sarcomas produce IL-15, we analyzed surgical specimens and cell lines obtained from rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. IL-15 mRNA was present in 9/9 surgical specimens (3 Ewing's sarcomas, 5 osteosarcomas and 1 rhabdomyosarcoma). The analysis of a panel of cell lines (7 derived from Ewing's sarcoma, 12 from osteosarcoma and 5 from rhabdomyosarcoma) showed that all rhabdomyosarcoma and osteosarcoma cell lines expressed IL-15 mRNA at levels ranging from low to high, while Ewing's sarcoma cells contained little or no IL-15 message. ELISA assays showed IL-15 release in a subset of rhabdomyosarcomas and osteosarcomas, but not in Ewing's sarcoma. The highest production of IL-15, in the picogram/ml range, was found in rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines RH30 and RD.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗

ThinPrep vs. conventional smears in fine-needle aspirations of sarcomas: A morphological and immunocytochemical study.

Very limited data exist describing the characteristics of sarcomas sampled by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and processed by the ThinPrep (TP) method. We compared the cytopathological and immunocytochemical features of sarcoma aspirates prepared using both the conventional and TP method. We reviewed 70 sarcoma FNAs. Samples were first used to prepare conventional smears and the remainder of the specimen was rinsed in Cytolyt. The average number of slides examined per case was two for the TP method and five for the conventional technique. Immunocytochemistry for different markers was performed in a subset of cases. Sixty-five cases were positive for sarcoma both by conventional and TP methods. Five cases were positive by one method only. Cellularity was higher on conventional slides. In terms of cytoarchitecture, TP slides revealed fewer thick clusters, more single cells that were more evenly distributed, and sometimes distortion of expected cellular arrangements and architectural patterns. Cytomorphological and nuclear details were better preserved on TP slides. The background of TP slides revealed a reduction of blood but also some loss of necrosis and characteristic background tumor features. Immunocytochemical staining revealed superior results on TP slides. TP and conventional slides showed good correlation. TPs were excellent for immunocytochemistry and represent an alternative to conventional smears when expertise in slide preparation is not available. However, TPs may require additional experience in the interpretation of sarcomas, mainly related to the loss of tumor-specific background features. They are useful as an adjuvant to conventional smears in sarcoma diagnoses, particularly when special studies are needed. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:351-354.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Preclinical experimental therapeutic approaches in soft tissue sarcoma.

Soft tissue sarcomas are relatively rare tumors that are generally treated with a multimodality approach including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Despite this aggressive tri-modality therapy, greater than 50% of soft tissue tumors will recur and result in diffuse metastatic spread of disease and ultimately death of the patient. It is this clinical scenario that drives the development of preclinical experimental studies designed to explore alternative treatments or enhance the effectiveness of existing therapies. Rapid developments in the field of molecular biology have led to the understanding of basic cellular processes governed by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. These cellular genes are sometimes overexpressed, mutated or even deleted from tumor cells. Cytogenetic analysis has led to the discovery of sarcoma fusion genes which encode for oncoproteins peculiar to specific subtypes of soft tissue sarcomas. These fusion genes have proved to be helpful in terms of diagnostic dilemmas and are now being used as targets in treatment strategies aimed at suppression of the cellular expression and action of these oncoproteins. Tumor suppressor genes such as p53 and the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor play important roles in growth inhibition and cell cycle progression. These tumor suppressors are often mutated or deleted in soft tissue sarcomas. Using gene therapy strategies, p53 can be reintroduced into sarcoma cells and has been shown to result in a dramatic decrease in cell survival. It also appears that p53 may sensitize these tumor cells to radiation and chemotherapy agents. Strategies which can drive tumor cells into programmed cell death pathways are also showing promise as novel treatment approaches to soft tissue sarcomas. This review will highlight some of the current research exploring novel treatment strategies aimed at molecular targets. Further development of these and other preclinical experimental programs are important in improving the outcome for patients with these rare soft tissue tumors.

Apoptosis↗

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma and pleomorphic sarcoma in association with medullary bone infarcts.

A malignant fibrous histiocytoma arose in the proimal tibia of a 40-year-old man who had multiple, symmetrically distributed, medullary bone infarcts of unknown etiology, involving the distal femora and the tibiae. Despite amputation and chemotherapy, widespread metastases developed and death occurred 19 months after surgery. A polemorphic sarcoma, probably representing an anaplastic malignant fibrous histiocytoma, arose in association with a single medullary infarct in the proximal humerus of a 33-year-old woman. She remains well without evidence of disease five years after treatment by radical radiotherapy followed by shoulder disarticulation. Sarcoma arising in association with bone infarction is a rare entity. Sixteen cases reported in the medical literature, including our own, are reviewed. The sarcomas arose in the tibia in nine cases, the femur in six cases and the humerus in one case. The patients were usually older individuals and 13 of the 16 were male. All but two had multiple bone infarctions. Four of the patients had caisson disease, three had what is probably an hereditary bone dysplasia, one had sickle cell disease and eight had infarcts of unknown etiology. Most patients have had a rapidly fatal outcome. Thirteen of the sarcomas have been fibrosarcomas or malignant fibrous histiocytomas, both of which are rare primary bone tumors. Analysis of the published cases of bone infarction-related sarcomas suggests that the risk of developing a sarcoma is greatest in infarcts with large medullary components.

Adult↗

Survival of patients with localized high-grade soft tissue sarcoma with multimodality therapy. A matched control study.

Ten of 16 consecutive patients (63%) with Stages III-IVA soft tissue sarcoma presenting between 1975 and 1978 and treated with surgery, radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy have remained disease-free with a median follow-up of three years (range, 28-68 months). Survival at three years was 86%. However, in the American Joint Committee (AJC) soft tissue sarcoma staging system published in 1977, Grade 3 soft tissue sarcomas were associated with a three-year survival of 35% and almost 90% of the patients destined to fail did so within three years of diagnosis (8). To determine if the observed improvement in survival resulted merely from lesions with favorable prognostic determinants at diagnosis, study patients were matched for stage, histologic type and location of the primary lesion with controls generated from these 1215 carefully reviewed sarcoma patients collected from the data base of the Task Force on Soft Tissue Sarcomas of the AJC. Only control cases whose histology had been reviewed and who had been treated with surgery (with or without radiotherapy) were included in the analysis. Cases survived significantly longer than controls at three years (p less than 0.001) and, in fact, disease-free survival of cases (63%) was superior to overall survival of controls (27%) (p less than 0.01). Our data support the conclusion that patients with high-grade soft tissue sarcoma treated by an experienced multimodality team have a three-year disease-free survival of approximately 63%. The impact of each component of multimodality therapy cannot be determined, and improved survival may result, in addition, from improved diagnostic and staging techniques currently available.

Adult↗

Radiation-induced sarcomas of the chest wall.

Sixteen patients are presented who had sarcomas of the chest wall at a site where a prior malignancy had been irradiated. The first malignancies included breast cancer (ten cases), Hodgkin's disease (four cases), and others (two cases). Radiation doses varied from 4200 to 5500 R (mean, 4900 R). The latency period ranged from 5 to 28 years (mean, 13 years). The histologic types of the radiation-induced sarcomas were as follows: malignant fibrous histiocytoma, nine cases; osteosarcoma, six cases; and malignant mesenchymoma, one case. The only long-term survivor is alive and well 12 years after resection of a clavicular chondroblastic osteosarcoma. Three cases were recently diagnosed. Despite aggressive multimodality treatment, the remaining 13 patients have all died from their sarcomas (mean survival, 13.5 months). All patients have apparently been cured of their first malignancies. Chemotherapy was ineffective. No treatment, including forequarter amputation, appeared to palliate the patients with supraclavicular soft tissue sarcomas. Major chest wall resection offered good palliation for seven of eight patients with sarcomas arising in the sternum or lateral chest wall. Close follow-up is needed to detect signs of these sarcomas in the ever-increasing number of patients receiving therapeutic irradiation.

Adolescent↗

Sarcomas and sarcomatoid neoplasms of the major salivary gland regions. A clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 67 cases and review of the literature.

Sixty-seven cases of sarcomas and sarcomatoid neoplasms of the major salivary gland regions were studied in order to determine the clinical and histomorphologic features and biologic behavior. Fifty-seven of these proved to be sarcomas and the two most common types were malignant schwannoma (11) and fibrosarcoma (9). Nine sarcomas could not be subclassified morphologically. Ten cases, originally believed to be sarcomas, proved by means of immunohistochemistry to be either carcinomas (five cases) or melanomas (five cases). Fifty-nine of the 67 cases occurred in the parotid gland regions, and the remaining eight occurred in the submandibular regions. Twenty of the 67 cases were thought to arise from within the gland, nine from paraglandular tissues, and insufficient data was present to anatomically categorize the other 38 cases. The mean age of occurrence was 42 years for men and 38 years for women. A swelling was the presenting symptom in 64 cases, with a mean duration of 4.3 months. Pain, tenderness, or paralysis were noted in 17 cases, but the swelling was painless in seven cases. Follow-up data of 42 sarcoma patients revealed that 17 experienced recurrences, 16 developed metastases, and 15 died of disease. These rates were lowest among patients with tumors arising from within the gland (Group I) and highest among those patients with tumors of paraglandular origin (Group III). Mean survival time for those dying of disease was 2.4 years, and a 5-year survival time appeared to be a significant indicator of cure. The most successful therapy was either parotidectomy (superficial or total) or a combination of surgery and radiation. The morphologic and the immunohistochemical evidence suggest that the majority of the tumors represent true sarcomas that may arise from undifferentiated pluripotential cells, but that the remainder (15%) represent epithelial malignancies.

Adolescent↗

Diagnosis of pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma with fiberoptic bronchoscopy and endobronchial biopsy. A report of five cases.

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a major tool in the diagnostic evaluation of pulmonary disease in patients with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Multiple opportunistic infections and Kaposi's sarcoma affect the lung in this disorder. In contrast to opportunistic infections, Kaposi's sarcoma is rarely reported to be diagnosed by means of bronchoscopy. This report describes five of seven patients in whom endobronchial lesions consistent with submucosal involvement by the tumor were seen, and Kaposi's sarcoma was diagnosed without complication. Kaposi's sarcoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary disease in patients with a proven extrapulmonary tumor focus, and fiberoptic bronchoscopy is the initial diagnostic procedure of choice. Endobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma may be a marker for parenchymal involvement by the tumor. Diagnosis of endobronchial Kaposi's sarcoma can be an important factor in decisions regarding therapy.

Adult↗