The diagnosis of sarcoidosis pleurisy by medical thoracoscopy: report of three cases.
Pleural effusion in sarcoidosis is infrequent. The data on thoracoscopic observations of sarcoidosis pleurisy are limited. The present study describes three cases of sarcoid-related pleurisy diagnosed by medical thoracoscopy and discusses the thoracoscopic features of sarcoid pleuritis. The appearance of pleural nodules was completely different in the three cases, and the distribution of nodules of sarcoidosis was heterogenously located in the pleural surfaces. Pleural disease in sarcoidosis could be proved easily by sampling visible nodules, and pleural fluid could be aspirated without complications during thoracoscopy. Due to symptomatic pleurisy of sarcoidosis, therapy was given as systemic corticosteroid. In conclusion, thoracoscopy may be an appropriate alternative technique to obtain an accurate diagnosis in sarcoid pleurisy.
Akçay
Sule
S
Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey. suleakcay68@yahoo.com
Pinelli
Valentina
V
Marchetti
Gian Pietro
GP
Tassi
Gian Franco
GF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods*