[Pseudotumoral forms of sarcoidosis]

Abstract

We report 5 cases of sarcoidosis in 4 men and 1 woman who presented multinodular pulmonary lesions. Seldom described (1 to 4% of all cases of sarcoidosis), a multinodular pulmonary presentation is suggestive of metastatic disease. In our patients, the parenchymal opacities were multiple, peripheral and exhibited fuzzy limits, measuring 1 to 7 cm in size and frequently associated with mediastinal adenopathies. The radiographic pattern contrasted with the clinical manifestations (3 of the 5 cases were fortuitous discoveries). Pathological proof required to rule out other disease, especially tumor formation, was acquired; mediastinoscopy allowing the diagnosis in 3 out of 5 cases. The clinical course was favorable in all cases without treatment within 8 +/- 5 months and a mean follow-up of 5 years (range 9 months to 14 years).