Radiotherapy of Kaposi's sarcoma.

Between 1958 and 1976, 34 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma were seen. Two patients were kidney transplant recipients. Co-existing malignancies were seen in 22% of patients. From 1958 to 1965, cutaneous lesions were treated solely with local radiotherapy techniques, single doses of 800 rads being found adequate to produce a complete response. In 1965, because of the multicentric occurrence of the disease and frequent recurrences after local radiotherapy techniques, extended field radiotherapy was begun. Ten of twelve patients thus treated responded completely. It is concluded that extended field radiotherapy using a single dose of 800 rads offers complete relief of symptoms and better control of the disease when compared to local radiotherapy. There was very little morbidity, with the extended field technique.