Pancreatic involvement in systemic sarcoidosis. A case report

Isolated Pancreatic Sarcoidosis Diagnosed by Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Fine-needle Aspiration

We herein report a 52-year-old man with multiple hypoechoic lesions in the body and tail of the pancreas detected during a screening ultrasound. Computed tomography (CT) showed no lesions other than those in the pancreas and peripheral lymph nodes. Contrast-enhanced CT identified hypovascular tumors in the pancreas. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) demonstrated partial fibrosis and noncaseating granulomas with Langhans giant cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of isolated pancreatic sarcoidosis diagnosed by EUS-FNA. Although pancreatic sarcoidosis is very rare, clinicians should be aware of this possibility in patients presenting with multiple hypovascular pancreatic tumors.

Diagnostic Challenge in Pancreatic Sarcoidosis Using Endoscopic Ultrasonography

We herein report a 55-year-old woman who presented with erythema and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy 4 months prior to the detection of pancreatic lesions on an ultrasound. A skin biopsy showed evidence of sarcoidosis. The largest lesion in the tail of the pancreas was hypoechoic on endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). The lesion was initially iso-enhanced on contrast enhanced-EUS (CE-EUS) but subsequently became hypoenhanced. The lesion revealed heterogeneous components of both soft and hard tissue on EUS elastography. She was ultimately diagnosed with pancreatic sarcoidosis based on the presence of noncaseating granulomas seen on pancreatic tissue retrieved through an EUS-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy.

A Rare Variant of Pancreatic Sarcoidosis: Diagnostic Challenge

Pancreatic sarcoidosis is one of the variant of systemic sarcoidosis which is extremely rare in literature and opined as an enigma. Hence, its diagnosis is very challenging as its presentation mimics pancreatic carcinoma. In view of a better understanding, we are presenting a case of pancreatic sarcoidosis to emphasize the above. To clearly distinguish sarcoidosis from malignancy, repeated computed tomography scans, Positron emission tomography scans, fine needle aspiration cytology, endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography supplemented with histology and relevant blood tests proved it to be a pancreatic sarcoidosis then a malignancy. Over the course, concrete evidence was divulged from lymph node biopsy and histology in clinching the diagnosis which later transformed into a malignancy. Therefore, we concluded it is a rare variant of pancreatic sarcoidosis and careful serial investigations include repeated imaging, histology and blood tests are essential to establish and most importantly differentiate the diagnosis.

How to cite this article

Khangura T, Uddin G, Davies A, Keating J. A Rare Variant of Pancreatic Sarcoidosis: Diagnostic Challenge. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2015;5(2):118-121.

Sarcoidosis of the pancreas mimicking adenocarcinoma

Primary sarcoidosis of the pancreas is extremely rare. Clinical presentation is often identical to that of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Preoperative diagnosis of primary pancreatic sarcoidosis is always challenging. We present a 52-year-old man who developed weight loss and obstructive jaundice. Abdomino-pelvic CT scan showed a mass in the pancreatic head. After hepatopancreaticobiliary MDT discussion, a Whipple's procedure was attempted but the mass was deemed unresectable due to invasion of the superior mesenteric vein. Upon completion of palliative chemotherapy, repeat imaging showed significant mass shrinkage. A reattempt Whipple's procedure was successfully undertaken. Histology showed changes of chronic pancreatitis and peripancreatic granulomatous inflammation with no evidence of malignancy and a diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made. Owing to the devastating nature of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, any mass in the pancreas must be thoroughly investigated before a definitive diagnosis is made.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma associated with autoimmune pancreatitis

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), in contrast to other benign chronic pancreatic diseases, can be cured with immunosuppressant drugs, thus the differentiation of AIP from pancreatic cancer is of particular interest in clinical practice. There is the possibility that some patients with AIP may develop pancreatic cancer, and this possibility contributes to increasing our difficulties in differentiating AIP from pancreatic cancer. We herein report the case of a 70-year-old man in whom pancreatic adenocarcinoma and AIP were detected simultaneously. We must carefully monitor AIP patients for the simultaneous presence of pancreatic cancer, even when a diagnosis of AIP is confirmed.

Intra-abdominal complications of sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by non-caseating granulomas in the absence of other autoimmune processes, infectious diseases, or foreign agents. The etiology of sarcoidosis is not completely understood. Several organ systems can be affected, of which the most frequently involved include the lungs and lymph nodes. Intra-abdominal sarcoidosis is less common, but can be found in the absence of pulmonary or lymphatic disease. Intra-abdominal sarcoidosis is most often asymptomatic. However, long-standing unrecognized disease can result in life-threatening complications. The identification, monitoring and prevention of these complications will be discussed, with emphasis on both clinical and histological presentations of intra-abdominal sarcoidosis.

A Rare Nonmalignant Mass of the Pancreas: Case Report and Review of Pancreatic Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology affecting patients from all genetic backgrounds. Pancreatic involvement is rare; the first case was described on autopsy in 1937. We present a case of pancreatic sarcoidosis without a history of the disease presenting as biliary obstruction mimicking pancreatic malignancy. We also review the literature with respect to management and outcomes of similar cases. The patient described here presented with all the signs and symptoms of a pancreatic malignancy, which was confirmed on a CT scan; the positron emission tomography scan and the CA 19-9 level were also confirmatory of the suspected diagnosis. In this setting, if the mass looks resectable, a Whipple procedure would be the next logical step. However, such strategy would be aggressive management for a benign condition that could be palliated with diverting rather than resective procedures without changing the outlook of the disease. We suggest keeping a high index of suspicion in patients with a history of the disease if demographic concordance exists.

Usefulness of serum IgG4 in the diagnosis and follow up of autoimmune pancreatitis: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis

High circulating serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels have been proposed as a marker of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). The aim of the present study was to review the data existing in the English literature on the usefulness of the IgG4 serum levels in the diagnosis and follow up of patients with AIP. A total of 159 patients with AIP and 1099 controls were described in seven selected papers reporting the usefulness of serum IgG4 in diagnosing AIP. In total, 304 controls had pancreatic cancer, 96 had autoimmune diseases, and the remaining 699 had other conditions. The summary receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was carried out by means of Meta-DiSc open-access software. Serum IgG4 showed good accuracy in distinguishing between AIP and the overall controls, pancreatic cancer and other autoimmune diseases (area under the curve [+/- SE]: 0.920 +/- 0.073, 0.914 +/- 0.191, and 0.949 +/- 0.024, respectively). The studies analyzed showed significantly heterogeneous specificity values in each of the three analyses performed. The analysis of the four studies comparing AIP and pancreatic cancers also showed significantly heterogeneous values of sensitivities and odds ratios. Regarding the usefulness of IgG4 as a marker of efficacy of steroid treatment, a decrease in the serum concentrations of IgG4 was found in the four available studies. The serum IgG4 subclass is a good marker of AIP, and its determination should be included in the diagnostic workup of this disease. However, the heterogeneity of the studies published until now means that more studies are necessary in order to better evaluate the true accuracy of IgG4 in discriminating AIP versus other autoimmune diseases.

Gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations of sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease characterized by noncaseating granulomas in the affected organs, including skin, heart, nervous system, and joints. Diagnosis of sarcoidosis is generally based upon a compatible history, demonstration of granulomas in at least two different organs, negative staining and culture for acid fast bacilli, absence of occupational or domestic exposure to toxins, and lack of drug-induced disease. Involvement of the hollow organs is rare. Rather than being due to sarcoidosis, some reported mucosal lesions may simply have incidental granulomas. Extrinsic compression from lymphadenopathy can occur throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The stomach, particularly the antrum, is the most common extrahepatic organ to be involved, while the small bowel is the least common. Liver involvement frequently occurs and ranges from asymptomatic incidental granulomas to portal hypertension from granulomas in the portal triad, usually with relatively preserved liver function. CT scans show hepatosplenomegaly and adenopathy, followed in frequency by focal low-attenuation lesions of the liver and spleen. Ascites is usually a transudate from right heart failure (because of pulmonary hypertension) or portal hypertension (because of biliary cirrhosis). Rarely, an exudative ascites may occur from studding of the peritoneum with nodules. Pancreatic involvement presents as a mass, usually in the head or a diffusely firm, nodular organ. Corticosteroids should be instituted when organ function is threatened, usually lungs, eyes, and central nervous system. Their role in the treatment of hepatic sarcoidosis is unclear. The overall prognosis is good although most patients will have some permanent organ impairment. Cardiac and pulmonary diseases are the main causes of death.

[Atypical sarcoidosis]

PURPOSE

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Lung and lymphatic system are the principal localisations. Clinical presentations are various depending on involved organs. Some presentations, which are easily diagnosed, are typical and frequent. Atypical forms have unusual presentations and/or are rare. Beside, in a multisystemic sarcoidosis, the affection of only one organ can be unusual. Rigorous diagnosis procedure could avoid errors.

CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS

Twenty percent of sarcoidosis have atypical presentation. However, each of them are infrequent. Atypical features are wide and can concern pulmonary or extrapulmonary manifestations, general manifestations, blood testing or pathological pattern.

FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS

Describing atypical forms are necessary for their diagnosis. The diagnosis of atypical sarcoidosis is found on the knowledge of atypical forms previously described, presence of granulomas on specimen biopsy and excluding other granulomatous disease.

Extrapulmonary sarcoidosis of liver and pancreas: A case report and review of literature

Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown origin, which can involve nearly all organs. In the case of an infrequent gastrointestinal tract involvement in systemic sarcoidosis, granulomas of the liver are most commonly described while isolated pancreatic sarcoid lesions are rarely seen. We report a case of systemic sarcoidosis with exclusive extrapulmonal involvement of the liver and the pancreas in a 71-year-old white man. The diagnosis of liver involvement was confirmed by biopsy. Pancreatic surgery was needed because preoperative evaluation could not exclude pancreatic cancer and for biliary decompression. An extensive literature review of systemic sarcoidosis, focusing on reported cases with unusual presentation of sarcoidosis in the liver and the pancreas, its diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis was made.