Sarcome de Kaposi

Summary Kaposi was the first who, in 1872, described five patients presenting with ≪ sarcoma idiopathicum multiple hemorrhagicum ≫. In 1912 Sternberg termed this disease Kaposiʹs sarcoma. Since then various forms of this rare disease have been observed. In 1914 Hallenberg described the first cases of African or endemic Kaposiʹs sarcoma. In the 1960s the first reports discussing Kaposiʹs sarcoma following organ transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy were published. After 1981, the epidemic form associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was described. All these forms, their history, treatment methods and the role of radiation therapy in the management of this rare malignancy are discussed, and the literature is reviewed.