title: The intricacies of cardiac sarcoidosis: a case report involving the coronary arteries and a review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is rare, and concomitant involvement of the coronary arteries is rarer still. Successful diagnosis of this disease is difficult due to its nonspecific symptoms which mimic those of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We describe a 47-year-old Caucasian male who underwent orthotopic heart transplant for presumed IDCM. Examination of the explanted heart revealed numerous nonnecrotizing granulomata throughout, similar granulomata in the walls of the large coronary arteries, and large areas of fibrosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cases of IDCM with symptoms of angina or acute coronary syndrome, the possibility of CS should be considered. Herein, we present this case and a review of the relevant literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Toronto General Hospital/University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. jagdish.butany@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: Jagdish
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butany
authors.forename: Nina E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Bahl
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thangaroopan
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Shaun W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Leong
mesh_terms: D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography