pulmonary disorders
Sarcoidosis
Introduction
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disorder resulting in noncaseating granulomas in one or more organs and tissues; etiology is unknown. The lungs and lymphatic system are most often affected, but sarcoidosis may affect any organ. Pulmonary symptoms range from none to cough, exertional dyspnea and, rarely, lung or other organ failure. Diagnosis usually is first suspected because of pulmonary involvement and is confirmed by chest x-ray, biopsy, and exclusion of other causes of granulomatous inflammation. Treatment usually is indicated in symptomatic patients. First-line treatment is corticosteroids. Prognosis is excellent for limited disease but poor for more advanced disease. Sarcoidosis most commonly affects people aged 20 to 40 years but occasionally affects children and older adults. Worldwide, prevalence is greatest in Black American people and ethnic northern European people, especially Scandinavian people. Disease presentation varies widely by racial and ethnic background, with Black American patients having more frequent extrathoracic manifestations. Sarcoidosis is slightly more prevalent in women. 