Classical Kaposi sarcoma of aggressive course

The aggresive variant of the classical Kaposi sarcoma (KS), though uncommon, has an utmost relevance because its evolutive characteristics entail a great morbidity and mortality. Three classical KS cases are reported which manifested an unusually aggresive course, with extensive cutaneous and visceral involvement. One of the patients was diagnosed of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma 12 months later. None of the three patients responded to the different therapeutic regimens used: polychemotherapy, monochemotherapy and interferon-alfa, respectively. The three patients died within two years after diagnosis. In KS patients with pulmonary involvement, working in coal mines was recorded as occupational antecedent. These three cases illustrate the different clinical and therapeutic characteristics of an uncommon subtype in the KS spectrum in general and of its classical variant in particular. Likewise, the possible role of occupational exposure in the etiopathogenesis of KS is discussed.