AIDS-RELATED KAPOSI-SARCOMA OF THE LUNG - RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS AND STAGING SYSTEM WITH BRONCHOSCOPIC CORRELATION

PURPOSE: To determine the chest radiographic findings in patients with tracheobronchial Kaposi sarcoma (KS) and to develop a radiographic st aging system that allows comparison of radiographic to bronchoscopic f indings and allows assessment of the typical temporal progression of p ulmonary KS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chest radiographs and medical records of 76 male patients, aged 23-60 years (mean, 36 years 4 months ) with bronchoscopically proved KS were retrospectively reviewed. Tumo r extent at bronchoscopy (grade 1-3) was compared with severity of par enchymal disease (radiographic stage 0-3). RESULTS: There was a statis tically significant relationship between extent of tracheobronchial di sease and radiographic stage (P =.01). However, in same patients, pare nchymal KS of advanced stage was present with no visible endobronchial disease. CONCLUSION: The proposed staging system describes features o f early, moderate, and advanced KS. Although there is a correlation be tween tracheobronchial and parenchymal disease, the latter can occur i n the absence of endobronchial lesions.