Signs and Symptoms of Kaposi Sarcoma

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) usually appears first on the skin, but it might also affect other organs, which can cause different symptoms.

Skin lesions

KS usually appears as purple, red, or brown spots on the skin called lesions. KS lesions can be described in different ways:

• Papules are small, pimple-like lesions.
• Patches are flat and not raised above the surrounding skin.
• Plaques are flat but slightly raised and often have distinct edges.
• Nodules are rounded lumps or bumps under the skin.

The skin lesions of KS most often start on the legs or face, but they can also appear in other areas.

KS lesions are not usually painful, but lesions on your legs or in your groin area can sometimes block the flow of fluid out of your legs. This can lead to painful swelling in your legs and feet.

Lesions on mucous membranes

KS lesions can also develop on mucous membranes (the inner linings of certain parts of the body) such as inside your mouth and throat, the outside of your eye, and the inner part of your eyelids. These lesions are usually not painful or itchy.

Symptoms from lesions in other organs

KS lesions can also sometimes appear in other parts of your body and cause symptoms. For example:

• Lesions in your lungs might block part of an airway and cause shortness of breath.
• Lesions in your stomach or intestines can cause abdominal (belly) pain and diarrhea.

Symptoms from bleeding tumors

KS lesions sometimes bleed.

• Lesions in your lungs might cause you to cough up blood and lead to shortness of breath.
• Lesions in your stomach or intestines can cause bowel movements to become black and tarry or bloody.

Bleeding from lesions in your stomach and intestines can sometimes be so slow that blood isn’t visible in the stool. Over time, the blood loss can lead to a low red blood cell count (anemia). This can cause symptoms like feeling tired and being short of breath.