CT Findings in Pulmonary and Abdominal Sarcoidosis. Implications for Diagnosis and Classification

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology characterized by noncaseating granulomas virtually in every organ and tissue. This finding represents the most important diagnostic clue to reach a correct definition of sarcoidosis, although the biopsy is invasive and has several risk proc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Claudio Tana, Iginio Donatiello, Maria Gabriella Coppola, Fabrizio Ricci, Marica Tina Maccarone, Tiziana Ciarambino, Francesco Cipollone, Maria Adele Giamberardino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/9/3028
Description
Summary:Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology characterized by noncaseating granulomas virtually in every organ and tissue. This finding represents the most important diagnostic clue to reach a correct definition of sarcoidosis, although the biopsy is invasive and has several risk procedures. Several efforts are made to suspect the diagnosis of sarcoidosis by combining noninvasive elements, in particular from imaging, though these findings are often nonspecific and reflect the wide multifactorial pathogenesis. Every effort should be made to obtain a detailed radiological picture that, if associated with a suggestive clinical picture, could avoid the need of biopsy in some specific cases. In this narrative review, we aim to describe main computed tomography (CT) features of pulmonary and abdominal sarcoidosis, by reporting strengths and limits of this technique, in particular for the identification of extrapulmonary, isolated disease.
ISSN:2077-0383