Kaposi's sarcoma. Retrospective study of 90 cases with particular emphasis on the familial occurrence, ethnic background and prevalence of other diseases.

Identification of familial cases of Kaposi's sarcoma may help elucidate the role of genetic factors in this disease. To assess the prevalence of familial occurrences, the ethnic distribution of Kaposi's sarcoma and the prevalence of other diseases in our patient population, we have reviewed all cases of Kaposi's sarcoma seen at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1954 and 1975. Each patient was categorized on the basis of sex, age of onset of Kaposi's sarcoma, ethnic background, nativity, family history of Kaposi's sarcoma and prevalence of other diseases. Only one documented occurrence of familial Kaposi's sarcoma was found out of 90 cases reviewed. The frequency of familial Kaposi's sarcoma in our patient population supports the findings of other investigators. An ethnic predominance of Kaposi's sarcoma was substantiated, with most patients being immigrants from high-incidence areas (54 of 77) and predominantly of Jewish and italian heritage (52 Jewish and 17 Italian of 87).