title: Unusual cause of generalized osteolytic vertebral lesions: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vertebral sarcoidosis is an extremely rare form of osseous sarcoidosis. Although osseous sarcoidosis is almost always an incidental finding of sarcoidosis elsewhere in the body, vertebrae may be the primary disease site. Involvement of vertebrae is usually localized and sclerotic or lytic.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a case of extensive asymptomatic vertebral involvement by sarcoid with osteolytic lesions. Making the diagnosis requires biopsy and ruling out other commoner causes of osteolytic vertebral lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report this case in the hope of expanding the knowledge of osseous sarcoidosis. Our patient was unique in that all involvement was axial with sparing of the peripheral skeleton, near absence of any other organ involvement, diffuse involvement of the whole spine and osteolytic bone lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St, Luke's Hospital, 801 Ostrum Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015, USA. sudipnanda2000@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sudip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nanda
authors.forename: Surya Prakash
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Volk