In order to elucidate survival rates and risk of second primary cancer, we assessed 204 patients with histologically confirmed classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) who were identified in 11 Italian population-based cancer registries. One hundred and thirty-nine were men (median age 70 years) and 65 were women (median age 72). One, 5 and 10 year survival rates were 0.92, 0.69 and 0.46 respectively. Median survival was 9.4 years (i.e. not different from the Italian general population of the same sex and age). Survival did not vary according to sex and tumour site (i.e. lower limbs only or other). Eleven second primary cancers, including two lung and two kidney cancers, were reported after KS diagnosis (not different from the expected number).