Clinical Outcome Features of Non-HIV Kaposi's Sarcoma and the Role of Wide Excision on Survival: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Abstract

This single-center retrospective study enrolled 22 patients, who were divided into two groups: those who underwent wide excision (group A) and those who did not (group B). Group A included 13 patients, and group B included 9. Most of the cases fell into early stages (I and II). In group A, six patients solely underwent wide excision, whereas seven received additional treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Conversely, in group B, four patients received chemotherapy, four received radiotherapy, and one was managed through observation alone. The mean follow-up times were 60.15 and 43.44 months in groups A and B, respectively, with no significant difference observed. In group A, nine patients died, whereas, in group B, six died during the follow-up period. Lesion-free intervals after surgery were observed predominantly in group A, whereas, in group B, seven patients never experienced freedom from skin lesions. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis demonstrated a significant difference between the survival curves of the two groups (P = 0.046). Group A exhibited a more favorable outcome in the survival curve analysis. This significant difference could be attributed to the higher survival rates observed in group A during the first 5 years of follow-up. This finding underscores the potential benefit of surgical intervention in the management of non-HIV Kaposi's sarcoma, particularly in the short- to medium-term survival outcomes. Among patients with non-HIV Kaposi's sarcoma, especially those in the early stages, wide excision appears to play a role in treatment.