How this condition is treated depends on:

• How much the immune system is suppressed (immunosuppression)
• Number and location of the lesions
• Symptoms

Treatments include:

• Antiviral therapy against the AIDS virus
• Combination chemotherapy
• Freezing (cryotherapy)
• Radiation therapy

Lesions may return after treatment.

Treating Kaposi's sarcoma does not improve the chances of survival from AIDS itself. The outlook depends on the person's immune status and how much of the HIV virus is in the patient's blood (viral load).

Complications can include:

• Cough and shortness of breath (if the disease is in the lungs)
• Leg swelling that may be painful or cause infections (if the disease is in the lymph nodes of the legs)

The tumors can return even after treatment. Kaposi's sarcoma can be fatal for a person with AIDS.

An aggressive form of African Kaposi's sarcoma can spread quickly to the bones. Another form found in African children does not affect the skin. Instead, it spreads through the lymph nodes and vital organs, and can quickly become fatal.