TriangleFOR PATIENTS · SOURCE READING
Surgery
Source: Kaposi Sarcoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 17, 2023 · Captured 2026-09-09.
Selected source text with whitespace normalised. This Triangle page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Independent clinical review is pending.
Context: Treatment Option Overview / The following types of treatment are used to treat Kaposi sarcoma:
The following surgical procedures may be used for Kaposi sarcoma to treat small, surface lesions:
Source links and citations
Local excision: The cancer is cut from the skin along with a small amount of normal tissue around it.
Electrodesiccation and curettage: The tumor is cut from the skin with a curette (a sharp, spoon-shaped tool). A needle-shaped electrode is then used to treat the area with an electric current that stops the bleeding and destroys cancer cells that remain around the edge of the wound. The process may be repeated one to three times during the surgery to remove all of the cancer.
Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice