Thromboembolism in AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma

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Abstract
To the Editor. — Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) occurring in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) follows an aggressive clinical course. It frequently involves cutaneous and extracutaneous sites.1Prognosis bears a strong relationship to extent of disease, concomitant opportunistic infections, and ratio of helper and suppressor T cells.2Radiation therapy is often used for palliation of symptomatic lesions or to improve cosmesis. As a referral center for the treatment of KS, the Radiation Center of The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center has treated 219 patients with irradiation from September 1986 to June 1991. Eighty-six patients had involvement of the lower extremities and 58 of them had lower extremity lymphedema; eight of these patients died of suspected pulmonary thromboembolism. All had extensive involvement of a lower extremity with KS, lymphedema, and sudden onset of calf pain. Distal pulses were absent. Acute onset of chest pain and shortness of breath

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