Sarcoidosis mimicking metastatic breast cancer

Abstract

The clinical and radiographic aspects of sarcoidosis and malignancy might mimic one another, making the distinction between the two difficult in some cases. Although there have been many theories on the link between sarcoidosis and malignancy, the association remains unproven. An unfortunate consequence of the presence of both entities in the same patient is the risk of misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment. We describe 3 patients who presented with locally advanced breast cancer and who were found to have pulmonary findings for metastatic disease that were proven upon biopsy to be consistent with sarcoidosis.