Kaposi's sarcoma heel

This is a view of the medial side of a Kaposi sarcoma (KS) patient’s right heel, displaying the familiar, characteristic violaceous cutaneous plaques indicative of this disease. KS is a malignant tumor of the lymphatic endothelium caused by the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), also known as Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), and arises from a cancer of the lymphatic endothelial lining. It is characterized by bluish-red cutaneous nodules. Kaposi’s sarcoma is thought of as an opportunistic infection, affecting patients whose immune systems have been compromised, as in the case of patients with HIV/AIDS.