Chest computed tomography and mediastinoscopy in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis-associated uveitis.
OBJECTIVE
To report the usefulness of chest computed tomography and mediastinoscopy in diagnosing sarcoidosis in elderly patients with uveitis.


METHODS
Case reports. Two Caucasian women, aged 73 and 70 years, underwent evaluations for uveitis, which included chest computed tomography and mediastinoscopy.


RESULTS
A chest computed tomographic scan of each woman disclosed mediastinal lymphadenopathy and warranted mediastinal lymph node biopsy by mediastinoscopy. In both patients, histopathologic and microbiologic studies demonstrated sterile noncaseating granulomas consistent with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of sarcoid-associated uveitis in the elderly may be facilitated by chest computed tomography, which may be more sensitive than conventional chest roentgenography. Laboratory studies of biopsied mediastinal nodes obtained by mediastinoscopy can confirm the diagnosis.
Division of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA.
G S
GS
Kosmorsky
D M
DM
Meisler
T W
TW
Rice
M A
MA
Meziane
C Y
CY
Lowder
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008481:Mediastinoscopy; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014792:Visual Acuity