title: [Value of CT scanning in the investigation of thoracic sarcoidosis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown aetiology that includes a pulmonary or mediastinal component in 90% of cases. The aim of this study is to clarify the contribution of thoracic CT scanning in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis and its role in the follow-up and the evaluation of the activity of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a retrospective study of 39 patients with histologically confirmed sarcoidosis. All patients had one or more thoracic CT scans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common parenchymatous lesions were lymphatic micronodules and peri-bronchovascular thickening. The right paratracheal chain and the hilar nodes were the most frequently involved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CT scan is better than the chest x-ray at studying the parenchymal lesions and lymph node involvement in sarcoidosis. It helps in the differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis and other granulomatous disorders, especially tuberculosis. It also allows follow up of patients for the detection of complications, particularly fibrosis. Its role in the assessment of disease activity remains controversial.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Abderrahmane Mami, Ariana, Tunisie. saoussen.hantous@rns.tn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hantous-Zannad
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Charrada
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zidi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mestiri
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ben Miled-M'rad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome