CUTANEOUS LESIONS IN KAPOSI-SARCOMA (AIDS ) - EVALUATION OF LOCAL-CONTROL AND AESTHETIC RESULTS WITH A SCHEME OF SURFACE RADIOTHERAPY

This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical respons e of 51 cutaneous lesions of epidemic Kaposi sarcoma in patients with AIDS (EKS/AIDS), obtained with the use of a scheme of superficial radi otherapy (3 Gy/fraction, three fractions weekly up to a total dose of 30 Gy). The mean follow-up time was 9.3 months and the mean time to pr ogression of EKS/AIDS disease was 7-8 months. The initial clinical par ameters (pain, size, edema, and esthetics) of each cutaneous lesion we re compared with those obtained after one week, one month and three mo nths of therapy. An objective pain improvement was observed in 72% of early lesions and with statistic significance (after one week p = 0.00 3). After one month of teraphy a decrease in lesion size, edema, and e sthetic improvement was observed in 78%, 71% and 77%, respectively. Al though the evolution and prognosis of EKS/AIDS remains unchanged, it i ndeed provided palliation, with improvement of local control and esthe tics, which together with the simplicity of its application and absenc e of untoward effects render this radiotherapy technique a very useful indication.