Usually lethal cancer appearing as red-purple or blue-brown spots on the skin and other organs.
It has been linked to one of the herpes viruses, and there is considerable debate about how it should be classified. When described in 1872 by Moritz Kaposi, it was extremely rare, confined to specific Mediterranean and African populations. Since 0441; 1980 it has become common in AIDS patients. More homosexual male HIV patients have developed it than heterosexual intravenous-drug-using HIV patients. Remissions have occurred, but there is no known cure.