Sarcoidosis- CT findings

By Dr Deepu

conglomerated micronodules and centrilobular
 nodules in both lungs

Enlarged mediastinal  lymph nodes

 Bilateral hilar lymph nodes

Chest CT scans show conglomerated micronodules and centrilobular nodules in both lungs. We can see the enlarged mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymph nodes.

Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disease of unknown etiology, usually affecting the respiratory tract and other organs, and is characterized by the formation of nonnecrotizing epithelioid granulomas. The diagnosis depends on a combination of a typical clinicoradiological presentation, the finding of nonnecrotizing epithelioid granulomas in a tissue biopsy, and exclusion of other possible diseases, especially those of infectious etiology.

 Sarcoidosis results from an uncontrolled cell-mediated immune reaction. Interactions between chemokines and receptors that activate mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways play a major role in inflammation and T-cell responses. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-[alpha] is an important player in granuloma formation, and recent clinical trials have investigated the efficacy of TNF-[alpha] inhibitors in sarcoidosis.