title: [Definition and epidemiology of sarcoidosis].
abstract: Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disease of undetermined etiology with unexplained predilection for the lung. The definition of disease has been evaluated in many clinical centers but final results are still under discussion. Some historical facts of sarcoidosis presented in the paper show that histological and x-ray examinations are key diagnostic tools. Sarcoidosis occurs worldwide, with a high prevalence in Afro-Americans and Caribbeans, and in people of Nordic countries. Prevalence varies with geography and is dependent from environmental factors and immunogenetic mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Chorób Wewnetrznych, Pneumonologii i Alergologii, Centralny Szpital Kliniczny Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, Wojskowy Instytut Medyczny w Warszawie.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pacholska-Pytlakowska
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Płusa
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: From
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution