title: Sarcoidosis of female reproductive organs in a postmenopausal woman: a case report and review of the literature: is there a potential for hormone therapy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder of unknown cause that affects multiple organs. To date, only isolated cases of extrapulmonary sarcoidosis of the female reproductive tract, which rarely affects postmenopausal women, have been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the case of a postmenopausal woman with sarcoidosis of multiple structures of the genital tract accompanied by pulmonary involvement. A review of the literature was performed to examine the role of sex hormones in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We describe the case of a 60-year-old white, nulliparous, nulligravid postmenopausal woman with sarcoidosis of the cervix, uterus, mesosalpinx, and right ovary, accompanied by pulmonary involvement. The diagnosis was based on the identification of noncaseating granulomas in reproductive tract organs. Although imaging methods (high-resolution CT and chest x-ray) and pulmonary function tests did not reveal any abnormality, lung involvement was confirmed histologically by transbronchial biopsy. Treatment with steroids was successful and led to normalization of serum biomarker (serum angiotensin-converting enzyme, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, and neopterin) levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This particular case and a brief literature review of female genital tract sarcoidosis in postmenopausal women suggest the role of sex hormones in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. Hormone therapy may be a prospective therapeutic alternative to corticosteroids in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: From the 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University and University Hospital Olomouc, I.P. Pavlova, Olomouc, Czech Republic; 2Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hněvotínská, Olomouc, Czech Republic; 3Department of Clinical and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hněvotínská, Olomouc, Czech Republic; and 4Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hněvotínská, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zurkova
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turkova
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tichy
authors.forename: Radovan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pilka
authors.forename: Vitezslav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kolek
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kriegova
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006099:Granuloma / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D017698:Postmenopause; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015415:Biomarkers