title: [Extra-thoracic sarcoidosis].
abstract: Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology, characterized by the presence of non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas on tissue biopsy of affected organs. It may involve any organ, presenting in multiple forms to clinicians of different specialties. In its extra-thoracic form it may involve the liver (50-80%), spleen (40-80%), eye (20-50%), extrathoracic lymph nodes (30%), skin (25%), nervous system (10%), heart (5%), kidney, muscle and bone, sometimes without symptoms. The presence of extrathoracic disease may affect the prognosis and treatment options for sarcoidosis. The authors present a review of the major extra-thoracic manifestations of sarcoidosis regarding its clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Servico de Pneumologia, Centro Hospitalar de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arrobas
mesh_terms: D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000209:etiology