title: Diagnostic value of peripheral lymph node biopsy in sarcoidosis: a report of 67 cases.
abstract: A peripheral lymph node (PLN) 1 cm or greater was found in 79 of 546 sarcoidosis patients (14.5%) between 1972 and 2005. Seventy-two of the 79 sarcoidosis patients had a lymph node biopsy performed. Sixty-seven of these biopsy specimens were histologically diagnosed as sarcoidosis, whereas five patients had a reactive adenopathy. For patients with histological diagnosis of sarcoidosis, localizations of the biopsies were as follows: cervical (n=21), supraclavicular (n=20), inguinal (n=11), axillary (n=8), epitrochlear (n=5) and submandibular (n=2). At the time of biopsy, 12 patients had stage 0 disease, 37 patients had stage I disease, 14 patients had stage II disease and four patients had stage III disease. Skin involvement (16.4%) was the most frequently observed type of organ involvement in patients who had enlarged PLNs due to sarcoidosis. In the presence of an enlarged PLN in sarcoidosis, biopsy had a greater diagnostic value compared with other methods, as well as having a relatively low cost (approximately US$120) in Turkey. No procedure-related complications were observed. In conclusion, it is recommended that PLNs be thoroughly examined when sarcoidosis is suspected. If an enlarged PLN is found, biopsy should be routinely performed because it is an easy, convenient and practical method, with a low complication risk and a high sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Lung Diseases, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul, Aksaray, Turkey. halilyanardag@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yanardag
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caner
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papila
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uygun
authors.forename: Sabriye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.forename: Tuncer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karayel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014421:Turkey