Kaposi's sarcoma

noun

Ka·​po·​si's sarcoma ˈka-pə-sēz- 

 also  -shēz-,

kə-ˈpō-sēz- 

: 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

Word History

Etymology

Moritz Kaposi †1902 Hungarian dermatologist

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

Kaposi's sarcoma

noun

Ka·​po·​si's sarcoma ˈkap-ə-zēz-  kə-ˈpō-  -sēz- 

: 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