title: [Value of conjunctival biopsy in diagnosis of sarcoidosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Retrospective study concerning the value of conjunctival biopsy in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1990 and 1996 we performed conjunctival biopsy in 11 patients (mean age 42.7 +/- 16.4 years) with suspect of sarcoidosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 8 of the 11 patients the diagnosis of sarcoidosis was established during the clinical course. In four of these eight patients conjunctival biopsy was positive. Five of the eight were under systemic steroids at the time of biopsy. Of the four patients with clinically established sarcoidosis and negative biopsy, three were under systemic steroids at the time of biopsy. In two patients diagnosis of sarcoidosis was established primarily by conjunctival biopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conjunctival biopsy is a simple tool in the diagnostic of sarcoidosis. If possible, biopsy should be undertaken before systemic steroid treatment. We consider conjunctival biopsy to be useful as the first diagnostic tool before other invasive methods.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Groh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wenkel
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Naumann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000473:pathology*