Sarcoidosis with bilateral leg lymphedema as the initial presentation: a review of the literature

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease, characterized microscopically by noncaseating granulomas, which may involve multiple organs; however, the lung, skin, and lymph nodes are commonly affected. Sarcoidosis is a great imitator; in the skin, it presents with different cutaneous manifestations inclu...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hsin-Wei Huang, Lai-San Wong, Chih-Hung Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-03-01
Series:Dermatologica Sinica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1027811715000464
Description
Summary:Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease, characterized microscopically by noncaseating granulomas, which may involve multiple organs; however, the lung, skin, and lymph nodes are commonly affected. Sarcoidosis is a great imitator; in the skin, it presents with different cutaneous manifestations including lupus pernio, infiltrated plaques, maculopapular eruptions, infiltration of old scars, and subcutaneous sarcoidosis. Lymphedema as an initial presentation is extremely rare; cases are reported in African-American but not Asian patients. Lymphedema associated with sarcoidosis may result from lymphatic obstruction by infiltrating sarcoidosis. We present a case where the symptoms and signs of sarcoidosis were improved after treatment with systemic steroids.
ISSN:1027-8117