Sarcoidosis mimicking recurrent endometrial cancer.
BACKGROUND
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease and can be confused with benign or malignant tumors. In patients with recurrent gynecologic cancer, liver and intrathoracic lesions should undergo a biopsy to rule in metastatic malignancy, as clinical findings and CAT scan results may represent other disease processes.


METHODS
A 67 year old woman had a total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic and periaortic lymphadenectomy, and peritoneal cytology in 2001 for Stage I B grade 1 adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. She developed a vaginal recurrence in 2005. A CT scan of lungs, abdomen, and pelvis revealed extensive mediastinal adenopathy and multiple space occupying hepatic lesions worrisome for metastatic disease. A needle biopsy of the largest liver lesion revealed sarcoidosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Sarcoid lesions may mimic metastatic disease in patients with malignancy, potentially leading to delayed and/or inappropriate therapy.
Powell
John L
JL
Department of Obstetrics, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Coastal Area Health Education Center, 2131 South 17th Street, Wilmington, NC 28402-9025, USA. john.powell@coastalahec.org
Cunill
Erica S
ES
Gajewski
Walter H
WH
Novotny
Debra B
DB
D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology