Epidemiology of Kaposi's sarcoma in Scotland, 1976-1996

Based on data from the Scottish Cancer Registry, the epidemiology of Kaposi 's sarcoma (KS) in Scotland during the period 1976-96 is described. In male s. the annual age-standardized incidence rate (World standard population) i ncreased from less than 0.09 per 100 000 before 1986 to 0.44 in 1991 and th en decreased to around 0.17. Peak incidence is now at ages 30-39 compared w ith ages 80+ during the period 1976-82; and by 1986-96 the standardized inc idence ratio for the Health Board which includes Edinburgh had risen to alm ost four times the national level. These changes are largely consistent wit h the pattern of HIV infection in Scotland. However, in both sexes, relativ e to other neoplasms, and in international terms, KS remains rare in Scotla nd. For patients diagnosed during 1976-92, cumulative observed survival at 5 years was 8.7% at ages 0-49 compared with 49.8% at ages 50-84, reflecting the more aggressive course of AIDS-related KS, as well as the co-morbidity and competing causes of death associated with AIDS.