title: Colonic sarcoidosis: unusual onset of a systemic disease.
abstract: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology that has the potential to involve every tissue in the body. Sarcoidosis in the gastrointestinal system, and particularly the colon, is very rare. Here, we report the case of a 57-year-old man with no previous diagnosis of sarcoidosis who presented with new onset of abdominal pain and constipation. A colonoscopy revealed that the abdominal pain was caused by an obstructing lesion in the cecum-ascending colon and lacked a clear histologic diagnosis. Radiologic investigation revealed concentric wall thickening of the cecum-ascending colon with multiple satellite lymphadenopathies, highly suggestive of a malignancy. The patient underwent a laparotomy and a right hemicolectomy was performed. A diagnosis of colonic sarcoidosis was made after the resected specimen was examined. Additionally, a chest computed tomography scan revealed lung involvement with atypical radiologic features in the absence of respiratory symptoms. Only histologic examination of the surgical specimen can yield a diagnosis of gastrointestinal sarcoidosis due to the non-specificity of endoscopic and radiologic findings.
authors: Paola Erra, Sonia Crusco, Gianni Di Pilla, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, ASREM, "F. Veneziale" Hospital, 86070 Isernia, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Erra
authors: Paola Erra, Sonia Crusco, Gianni Di Pilla, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, ASREM, "F. Veneziale" Hospital, 86070 Isernia, Italy.
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Crusco
authors: Paola Erra, Sonia Crusco, Gianni Di Pilla, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, ASREM, "F. Veneziale" Hospital, 86070 Isernia, Italy.
authors: Loredana
authors: L
authors: Nugnes
authors: Paola Erra, Sonia Crusco, Gianni Di Pilla, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, ASREM, "F. Veneziale" Hospital, 86070 Isernia, Italy.
authors: Anna Maria
authors: AM
authors: Pollio
authors: Paola Erra, Sonia Crusco, Gianni Di Pilla, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, ASREM, "F. Veneziale" Hospital, 86070 Isernia, Italy.
authors: Gianni
authors: G
authors: Di Pilla
authors: Paola Erra, Sonia Crusco, Gianni Di Pilla, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, ASREM, "F. Veneziale" Hospital, 86070 Isernia, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Biondi
authors: Paola Erra, Sonia Crusco, Gianni Di Pilla, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, ASREM, "F. Veneziale" Hospital, 86070 Isernia, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Vigliardi
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D001706:Biopsy; D003082:Colectomy / Q000379:methods; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Colon; Hemicolectomy; Noncaseating granuloma; Sarcoidosis; Systemic disease