Discussion
Diagnosis With Brief Discussion
- Diagnosis
- Pulmonary sarcoidosis
- Radiologic Findings
- Chest radiographs show poorly defined patchy nodular opacities in the both lung fields.
HRCT images show numerous small nodules along the bronchovascular bundles, adjacent to interlobular septa and subpleurally.
There is no mediaistnal or hilar lymph node enlargement.
Patient had a skin nodule on back. Biopsy from skin nodule and TBLB were done and sarcoidosis was confirmed. The nodular lesions were markedly resolved without any treatment after one year.
- Brief Review
- Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder of unknown cause characterized histologically by the presence of noncaseating granulomatous inflammation. It may spontaneously resolve, generally in less than 2 years, or may evolve to pulmonary fibrosis in 20-25% of cases.
This case was stage 3 sarcoidosis (diffuse pulmonary disese unassociated with node enlargement). In one survey, only 20% with Stage 3 disease showed resolution of the radiographic findings. But the staging system of the sarcoidosis is only a means to describe the radiographic findings and patients do not necessarily progress sequentially from one stage to the next.
HRCT findings of pulmonary sarcoidosis
1) Nodules: Nodules are the most common abnormality in sarcoidosis. Most nodules are 2 mm to 1cm in diameter and have irregular margins. Nodules occur predominantly in a perilymphatic distribution. Beaded appearance of bronchovascular bundles, a perihilar concentration of abnormalities, and associated lobular distortion all typify sarcoidosis, as compared with lymphangitis carcinomatosa. Large parenchymal nodules (>1cm in diameter) are seen less frequently and this large nodule often shows so-called "sarcoid-galaxy sign".
2) Ground-Glass Attenuation
3) Alveolar Sarcoidosis: Large opacities with air bronchograms were seen in three of 44patients with sarcoidosis in one study. Peripheral distribution is common. The characteristic assocication with mediasitnal LAP and small nodules are seen.
4) Reticular opacities: Irregular reticular opacities are likely to represent early mainfestations of fibrosis.
5) Distortion, Cystic air spaces, and traction bronchiectasis: Usually shown by posterior displacement of the main or upper lobe bronchus.
6) Air Trapping: Narrowing of small airways occurs as a result of peribronchiolar granulomas.
7) Complication of Sarcoidosis: mycetoma formation of bullous disease in pulmonray sarcoidosis
Among the lesions described above, nodules, irregularly marginated nodules, and alveolar or pseudoalveolar consolidations were reversible. While septal or nonseptal lines with parenchymal distortion, honeycomb cysts, and traction bronchiectasis never decreased.
- References
- 1. Brauner MW, Lenoir S, Grenier P, et al. Pulmonary sarcoidosis: CT assessment of lesion reversibility. Rdiology 1992; 182:349-354
2. Traill ZC, Maskell GF, Gleeson FV. High-resolution CT findings of pulmonary sarcoidosis. AJR 1997; 168:1557-1560
3. Muller NL, Fraser RS, Lee KS, Johkoh T. Diseases of the lung. Radiologic and Pathologic Correlations. 2003, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 352-362
- Keywords
- Lung, Interstitial lung disease, Sarcoidosis, ILD,