title: Case studies to explore the pitfalls in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.
abstract: Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disorder of unknown cause. Diagnosis is established when clinical and radiological findings are supported by histological evidence of noncaseating epitheloid cell granulomas. Exclusion of granulomas of known causes and sarcoidlike reactions is mandatory. A lot of infections may mimic a sarcoidlike granulomatous reaction. Even with well advanced pathological and microbiological examination, it could be hard to make the appropriate diagnosis. Moreover, sarcoidosis patients receiving corticosteroids are susceptible to opportunistic infections. The challenge is, however, making the right diagnosis because opportunistic infections can resemble sarcoidosis. The case reports presented in this paper are meant to stress the importance of excluding granulomatous infections in patients with (suspected) sarcoidosis. Appropriate diagnostic procedures are important to exclude an infectious condition mimicking sarcoidosis. Accordingly, appropriate treatment can start without further delay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schilstra
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rottoli
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Robert Jan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Suylen
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galluzzi
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drent
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D008061:Whipple Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan