[The palliative radiotherapy of Kaposi's sarcomas in AIDS patients].

BACKGROUND

Follow-up of patients, who were irradiated because of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcomas.

METHODS

From 1983 to 1994 17 patients were irradiated because they suffered from AIDS-related neoplasms. Fifteen of these were irradiated because of Kaposi's sarcomas. The radiation fields were as small as possible, the total dose that was given was 30 Gy in the average, given 5 x 2 Gy or 4 x 2.5 Gy per week.

RESULTS

The results concerning the cosmetic benefits were good, the pain could be reduced very well. In two patients the radiation therapy was cancelled: 1 patient suffered from a general tumor progression and 1 did not allow any further therapy. The remission rate was 3 to 4 months in the average, 3 patients did not show local progression for 4 respectively, 5 months now. One patient was in remission for 8 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The radiation therapy is a local, but very effective method to treat patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcomas. Whereas the side-effects are very little, we found quite a long remission rate.