title: Sarcoidosis in north Indian population: a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown origin most commonly involving the lungs. Sarcoidosis is frequently misdiagnosed due to its clinico-radiological resemblance to tuberculosis (TB). Hence, the present study was undertaken with the aim of studying the clinico-radiological profile of sarcoidosis in the Indian context.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studied 146 patients diagnosed to have sarcoidosis during the period 2001-2010 at one of the respiratory units at Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority of them (70%) were more than 40 years of age; females comprised 58.2% of the patients. Before coming to our clinic, 30% patients had been misdiagnosed to have TB. Cough (89.7%) was the most common presenting symptom; joint symptoms (28.8%) and end inspiratory crepitations at lung bases (49.3%) were other salient manifestations. Cutaneous involvement and digital clubbing were rarely seen. Pulmonary function testing showed restriction with impaired diffusion in 72.7% patients. The most common radiological feature was bilaterally symmetrical hilar lymphadenopathy. Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) had a very high diagnostic yield (90.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sarcoidosis is often misdiagnosed as TB in India. Transbronchial lung biopsy has high diagnostic yield in sarcoidosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Allergy, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India. rajkumarvpci@gmail.com
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gaur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D013147:Spirometry; D055815:Young Adult