RADIATION-THERAPY FOR NON-AIDS ASSOCIATED (CLASSIC AND ENDEMIC AFRICAN) AND EPIDEMIC KAPOSIS-SARCOMA

Purpose: A retrospective analysis of patients with non-AIDS and AIDS-r elated Kaposi's sarcoma, who were treated with radiation therapy. Meth ods and Materials: Between 1978 and 1992, 56 patients with one of the three major types (classical, endemic, epidemic) of Kaposi's sarcoma r eceived radiation therapy as their sole treatment modality. Extent of fields, daily fractionation, and total dose were applied on a clinical basis. These lesions received superficial x-ray therapy, Co-60 teleth erapy, or 6-8 MeV electron beams. Field sizes depended on extent of th e lesion. Total dose administration ranged from 8-12 Gy in one exposur e, or a total of 24-30 Gy fractionated over 2-3 weeks. Results: The ma jority of patients responded to radiation therapy. Symptomatic relief was achieved in 80-100% of patients irrespective of the type of Kaposi 's sarcoma, treatment modality, or schedule. Side effects were tolerab le in all but three patients with epidemic type Kaposi's sarcoma, who developed severe mucositis. Conclusion: Radiotherapy is the most usefu l mode of palliative treatment for all forms of Kaposi's sarcoma in so uthern African patients.