Surgical problems in sarcoidosis.
Sarcoidosis ranges from asymptomatic lymphadenopathy to debilitating cavitary lung disease and involves surgeons in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In 89 patients two died of pulmonary insufficiency from Stage III sarcoidosis. Sixty-two patients underwent 74 diagnostic surgical procedures, with mediastinoscopy most frequently used, yielding 100 per cent diagnostic accuracy. Biopsies of other obviously diseased sites, including lung, liver and skin were effectively used. Surgical treatment of sarcoidosis involved both general and thoracic procedures in seven patients. The severity of pulmonary problems in Stage III sarcoidosis is emphasized in two patients with Aspergillus infections, hemoptysis and Aspergillus empyema with bronchopleural fistula. Sarcoidosis becomes a significant surgical problem in both diagnosis and the treatment of its complications.
D000328:Adult; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*