title: The Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis.
abstract: Sarcoidosis is a diagnosis of exclusion; there exists neither a pathognomonic clinical feature nor a perfect diagnostic test. Missed diagnosis and overdiagnosis are common. A careful history and physical examination look for "footprints" of sarcoidosis or features suggesting alternative diagnoses. Some presentations are classic and do not require tissue confirmation. A tissue biopsy should be performed if doubt exists. Sampling intrathoracic disease by transbronchial or ultrasound-guided biopsy of mediastinal lymph nodes provide high diagnostic yield with low complication rates. Even with tissue confirmation, diagnosis is never secure and follow-up is required to be fully confident of the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Sarcoidosis Center, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Govender
authors.affiliation: Sarcoidosis Center, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: jsberman@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Berman
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Biopsy; Differential diagnosis; Heerfordt syndrome; Hilar adenopathy; Lofgren's syndrome; Organ involvement; Sarcoidosis