Kaposi's sarcoma

noun Ka·po·si's sarcoma \ ˈka-pə-sēz- also -shēz- , kə-ˈpō-sēz- \

Definition of Kaposi's sarcoma

: a neoplastic disease that occurs especially in individuals coinfected with HIV and a specific herpesvirus (species Human herpesvirus 8 of the genus Rhadinovirus), that affects especially the skin and mucous membranes, and that is marked usually by pink to reddish-brown or bluish plaques, macules, papules, or nodules especially on the lower extremities —abbreviation KS

Origin and Etymology of kaposi's sarcoma

Moritz Kaposi †1902 Hungarian dermatologist

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1916

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

Kaposi's sarcoma

noun Ka·po·si's sarcoma \ ˈkap-ə-zēz- , kə-ˈpō- , -sēz- \

medical Definition of Kaposi's sarcoma

: a neoplastic disease affecting especially the skin and mucous membranes, characterized especially by the formation of pink to reddish-brown or bluish tumorous plaques, macules, papules, or nodules especially on the lower extremities, and formerly limited primarily to elderly men in whom it followed a benign course but now being a major and sometimes fatal disease associated with immunodeficient individuals with AIDS —abbreviation KS

Biographical Note for kaposi's sarcoma

Kaposi play \ˈkȯ-pō-shē\, Moritz (1837–1902), Hungarian dermatologist. Kaposi taught and practiced at a leading clinic of dermatology in Vienna. He was the author of a number of original descriptions of skin diseases including the condition now known as Kaposi's sarcoma.