How are cancer and connective tissue diseases related to sarcoidosis?

Hematologic and Oncologic Aspects of Sarcoidosis: Some of the Least Studied but Most Common Dilemmas

The hematologic system is frequently involved in sarcoidosis. Lymphopenia is the most common hematologic manifestation noted, although anemia and thrombocytopenia also occur. The etiology of these common manifestations can be direct granulomatous infiltration of bone marrow, lymph nodes, or spleen or related to immunologic dysfunction. Although not life threatening, these problems can lead to cytopenias requiring close monitoring in patients receiving a variety of disease treatments. The relationship between sarcoidosis and malignancy remains complex. However, some sarcoidosis patients are at increased risk for the development of malignancies, particularly lymphomas and gastrointestinal cancers. Conversely, cancer patients can experience an increase in the likelihood for the development of breast cancer and lymphomas.

Drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction to adalimumab in the oral mucosa of a patient with Crohn's Disease

BACKGROUND

The drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction (DISR) is a condition clinically and pathologically similar to sarcoidosis but is induced by certain drugs. A few cases of DISR associated with the use of TNF-α antagonists have been reported in the literature.

CASE REPORT

A 49-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of Crohn's Disease under treatment with adalimumab presented with a 2-month-long ulcerated swelling in the left lower fornix. Histological analysis of the biopsy specimen revealed multiple non-caseating granulomas multinucleated cells and epithelioid macrophages surrounded by lymphocytes. The lesion is under symptomatic control with a topical corticosteroid, and the patient is being monitored for manifestation in other organs and systems.

CONCLUSION

Lesions of DISR may occur isolated in the oral mucosa. Therefore, this complication must be considered in the differential diagnosis of oral granulomatous lesions in patients under treatment with anti-TNF-α drugs.

A Case of Synchronous Occurrence of Intracranial Germinoma and Systemic Sarcoidosis

Although the synchronous occurrence of testicular seminoma and systemic sarcoidosis has been reported, that of intracranial germinoma and systemic sarcoidosis is unknown. A 26-year-old man presented with symptoms of panhypopituitarism and consciousness disturbance. Imaging demonstrated a large nodule in the upper right lung field and swelling of multiple bilateral pulmonary and mediastinal lymph nodes in addition to the bifocal pineal and suprasellar tumors with obstructive hydrocephalus. The pathological diagnosis of the intracranial bifocal tumors was pure germinoma, whereas that of the mediastinal lymph nodes was epithelioid granuloma. Three courses of chemotherapy using carboplatin and etoposide were administered, followed by whole ventricle irradiation. The intracranial tumors completely disappeared, but the lung nodule and mediastinal lymph nodes progressed. Whole-body fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography demonstrated accumulation in the mediastinal lymphadenopathy, lung masses, and multiple lymph nodes of the whole body. Transbronchial lung biopsy revealed epithelioid granuloma with multinucleated giant cells. In conjunction with the high blood concentration of angiotensin-converting enzyme and soluble interleukin-2 receptor, these findings established a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. This is the first report of synchronous occurrence of intracranial germinoma and sarcoidosis. Such coexistence is extremely rare, but we should mind that sarcoidosis can occur with intracranial germinoma.

Granulomatous Sarcoidosis Mimics

Many granulomatous diseases can mimic sarcoidosis histologically and in terms of their clinical features. These mimics include infectious granulomatous diseases, granulomatous reactions to occupational and environmental exposures, granulomatous drug reactions, vasculitides and idiopathic granulomatous conditions. It is important to distinguish sarcoidosis from these mimics, as a misdiagnosis of these diseases may have serious consequences. This manuscript reviews numerous sarcoidosis mimics and describes features of these diseases that may allow them to be differentiated from sarcoidosis. Distinguishing features between sarcoidosis and its mimics requires a careful review of the medical history, symptoms, demographics, radiographic findings, histologic features, and additional laboratory data. Understanding the clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis and its mimics should lead to more accurate diagnoses and treatment of granulomatous disorders that should improve the care of these patients. As the diagnostic criteria of sarcoidosis are not standardized, it is possible that some of these sarcoidosis mimics may represent varied clinical presentations of sarcoidosis itself.

Sarcoidosis or cancer? That is the question

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Sarcoid like granuloma may develop concurrently or following cancer. Detection of granuloma in mediastinal lymph nodes biopsy in patient with pulmonary nodules may be a concern for undiagnosed lung cancer. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a diagnostic modality of choice for the lung lesions.

We discussed A 71-year-old man with history of chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), who presented with a lung nodule and mediastinal lymphadenopathies. The nodule was 9.9 mm when detected and his endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial fine needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) of lymph nodes in station 7 & 4R showed normal lymph node structure. Two years later, his surveillance chest CT scan indicated an increase in the size of the nodule to 15 mm, and PET/CT showed Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) avid nodule & mediastinal Lymph nodes. He complained of Shortness of breath after 2–3 climbs of stairs, without any history of cough or fever. He quit cigarette smoking recently and smoked 50 pack years before. He underwent another set of EBUS and was referred for sarcoidosis treatment due to finding non-necrotizing granuloma in 4L and 11L lymph nodes. The patient also underwent another biopsy of the nodule concerning the possibility of cancer sarcoid syndrome. A poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma positive for GATA3, positive for P63 and CK7, TTF-1 was reported.

Concurrent lung cancer and granulomatous reaction in mediastinal lymph nodes are being reported more often. Recent studies have shown a better survival of patients with diagnosis of cancer and granulomatous findings of sarcoidosis. Performing lung biopsy from any nodular lesion in a patient with sarcoidosis is essential for the differential diagnosis and early therapeutic measures.

Sarcoidosis: Pitfalls and Challenging Mimickers

Sarcoidosis, a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology, may mimic other conditions at presentation often resulting in delayed diagnosis. These conditions include infections, neoplasms, autoimmune, cardiovascular, and drug-induced diseases. This review highlights the most common sarcoidosis mimics that often lead to pitfalls in diagnosis and delay in appropriate treatment. Prior to invasive testing and initiating immunosuppressants (commonly corticosteroids), it is important to exclude sarcoid mimickers.

Case Report: All That Glisters Is Not* Cancer

Properly performed staging in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is necessary to avoid wrong therapeutic decisions. Here we present a case which manifested as advanced NSCLC but ultimately was composed of two different and rare pathologies. The first is a TTF-1 positive axillary lymph node that could be defined either as an unusual isolated differentiated cancer of unknown primary or as an even rarer case of ectopic lung epithelium which underwent malignant transformation. The second is sarcoidosis, a sarcoid-like alteration, in remission after oral steroids. The main implication of a correct diagnosis regards patient outcome and the avoidance of toxic inappropriate systemic chemotherapy.

Granulomatous lung disease: clinical aspects

INTRODUCTION

Granulomatous lung diseases (GLD) are heterogeneous group of diseases that can be broadly categorized as infectious or noninfectious. This distinction is extremely important, as the misdiagnosis of a GLD can have serious consequences. In this manuscript, we describe the clinical manifestations, histopathology, and diagnostic approach to GLD. We propose an algorithm to distinguish infectious from noninfectious GLD.

AREAS COVERED

We have searched PubMed and Medline database from 1950 to December 2019, using multiple keywords as described below. Major GLDs covered include those caused by mycobacteria and fungi, sarcoidosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and vasculidities.

EXPERT OPINION

The cause of infectious GLD is usually identified through microbiological culture and molecular techniques. Most noninfectious GLD are diagnosed by clinical and laboratory criteria, often with exclusion of infectious pathogens. Further understanding of the immunopathogenesis of the granulomatous response may allow improved diagnosis and treatment of GLD.

Screening Sarcoidosis Patients for Occult Disease

As sarcoidosis may involve any organ, sarcoidosis patients should be evaluated for occult disease. Screening for some organ involvement may not be warranted if it is unlikely to cause symptoms, organ dysfunction, or affect clinical outcome. Even organ involvement that affects clinical outcome does not necessarily require screening if early detection fails to change the patient's quality of life or prognosis. On the other hand, early detection of some forms of sarcoidosis may improve outcomes and survival. This manuscript describes the approach to screening sarcoidosis patients for previously undetected disease. Screening for sarcoidosis should commence with a meticulous medical history and physical examination. Many sarcoidosis patients present with physical signs or symptoms of sarcoidosis that have not been recognized as manifestations of the disease. Detection of sarcoidosis in these instances depends on the clinician's familiarity with the varied clinical presentations of sarcoidosis. In addition, sarcoidosis patients may present with symptoms or signs that are not related to specific organ involvement that have been described as parasarcoidosis syndromes. It is conjectured that parasarcoidosis syndromes result from systemic release of inflammatory mediators from the sarcoidosis granuloma. Certain forms of sarcoidosis may cause permanent and serious problems that can be prevented if they are detected early in the course of their disease. These include (1) ocular involvement that may lead to permanent vision impairment; (2) vitamin D dysregulation that may lead to hypercalcemia, nephrolithiasis, and permanent kidney injury; and (3) cardiac sarcoidosis that may lead to a cardiomyopathy, ventricular arrhythmias, heart block, and sudden death. Screening for these forms of organ involvement requires detailed screening approaches.

Drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction in adjuvant immunotherapy: Increased rate and mimicker of metastasis

BACKGROUND

Anti-[programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)] antibodies nivolumab and pembrolizumab were approved for adjuvant treatment of melanoma as they demonstrated improved relapse-free survival. Currently, combined anti-PD-1 plus anti-[cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4)] blockade is being investigated in adjuvant and neoadjuvant trials. Sarcoidosis-like reactions have been described for immune checkpoint inhibitors and are most likely drug-induced. The reported rate of sarcoidosis/sarcoidosis-like reactions within clinical melanoma trials is <2%. We observed that a remarkably higher number of melanoma patients (10/45 patients, 22%) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) within an adjuvant clinical trial-developed drug induced sarcoidosis-like reaction (DISR) mimicking metastasis.

CASE PRESENTATION

Of 45 stage III melanoma patients who were treated at our institute with adjuvant ICI (either nivolumab alone or in combination with ipilimumab) within a two-armed, blinded clinical trial, ten developed a DISR. Three of the ten patients were men, median age was 52 years (range, 32-70 years). DISRs were asymptomatic and generally detected radiographically at first radiographic imaging after the start of therapy (median time, 2.8 months) and described as a differential diagnosis to tumour progression. In one patient, DISR was only apparent 13.1 months after start of therapy and 4 weeks after the end of ICI treatment. DISR presented as mediastinal/hilar lymphadenopathy in 8/10 patients (as only site or in addition to lung, skin and/or bone involvement), one patient had only lung and cutaneous, one patient only cutaneous DISR. Biopsies from lymph nodes, skin and bone were taken in 8/10 patients, and histology confirmed sarcoidosis-like reactions (SLRs). As patients were asymptomatic, no treatment for DISR was required, and study treatment was stopped for DISR in only one patient due to bone involvement. DISRs have resolved or are in remission in all patients. At a median follow-up time of 15.3 months (range, 12-17.6 months), two patients experienced melanoma relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

In most cases, sarcoidosis could only be differentiated from melanoma progression on biopsy. Treating physicians as well as radiologists have to be aware of the potentially higher rate of DISR in patients receiving adjuvant ICI. A thorough interdisciplinary workup is required to discriminate from true melanoma progression and to decide on continuation of adjuvant ICI treatment.

Clustering of immune-mediated diseases in sarcoidosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Sarcoidosis is an immune-mediated disease of unknown cause. Immune-mediated diseases appear to cluster in patients and in families. We review what is known on this topic for sarcoidosis, and what factors may underlie disease clustering.

RECENT FINDINGS

In populations of patients with sarcoidosis, relative risk estimates of Sjögren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune hepatitis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis (MS), celiac disease, autoimmune thyroid disease, and ulcerative colitis, varied between 2.1 and 11.6. In relatives of patients with sarcoidosis, relative risk estimates varied between 1.3 and 5.8 for sarcoidosis, MS, celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, Graves' disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. Shared risk loci in key immunological pathways provide evidence for a contribution to development of multiple diseases. Identical changes in the immune status, epigenetic alterations, and environmental triggers have been detected in several diseases, and drug-induced disease is likely responsible for a small portion of co-occurring disease.

SUMMARY

Clustering of sarcoidosis and other immune-mediated diseases in patients and in their relatives occurs for sarcoidosis, MS, celiac disease, Graves' disease, and ulcerative colitis. Further research is needed to substantiate causal links and risk estimates in patients and their relatives.

Rare case of parathyroid gland sarcoidosis presenting with hypercalcaemia

Sarcoidosis of the parathyroid gland is a rare occurrence. Parathyroid sarcoidosis is usually associated with parathyroid adenomas, and, therefore, hypercalcaemia is a common presentation of this entity. We present a case of parathyroid sarcoidosis and review the world literature regarding this rare condition. A woman with a history of diffuse large B cell lymphoma underwent a surveillance positron emission tomography scan that showed increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in multiple thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes and in a left upper extremity soft tissue mass. Biopsy of the soft tissue mass showed non-caseating granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. Blood work showed a serum calcium of 11.1 mg/dL with an intact serum parathyroid hormone of 92 pg/dL. Primary hyperparathyroidism was suspected. A neck ultrasound and sestamibi parathyroid scintigraphy demonstrated a parathyroid nodule. She underwent surgical resection, and the histopathology revealed a parathyroid adenoma and non-caseating granulomata consistent with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis.

Sarcoid-like reaction associated with renal cell carcinoma - A case report

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a highly vascular tumor, which may spread to the lungs and other organs. It often presents with localized or systemic manifestation, including paraneoplastic syndromes. Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous inflammatory disease characterized by non-caseating granulomas that typically afflicts the respiratory system. In the absence of any evidence of systemic sarcoidosis they are referred to as sarcoid-like reactions. Non-caseating epithelioid granulomas, also regarded to sarcoid-like granulomas have been described in association with certain malignancies such as carcinomas of the breast, colon, seminoma, and Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, sarcoid like reaction associated with renal cell carcinoma is uncommon. Herein we present a rare case of a patient with renal cell carcinoma with mediastinal lymphadenopathy initially thought to metastatic disease, though revealed a sarcoid-like reaction with review of literature.

Drug-Induced Sarcoidosis-Like Reactions

A drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction (DISR) is a systemic granulomatous reaction that is indistinguishable from sarcoidosis and occurs in a temporal relationship with initiation of an offending drug. DISRs typically improve or resolve after withdrawal of the offending drug. Four common categories of drugs that have been associated with the development of a DISR are immune checkpoint inhibitors, highly active antiretroviral therapy, interferons, and tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists. Similar to sarcoidosis, DISRs do not necessarily require treatment because they may cause no significant symptoms, quality of life impairment, or organ dysfunction. When treatment of a DISR is required, standard antisarcoidosis regimens seem to be effective. Because a DISR tends to improve or resolve when the offending drug is discontinued, this is another effective treatment for a DISR. However, the offending drug need not be discontinued if it is useful, and antigranulomatous therapy can be added. In some situations, the development of a DISR may suggest a beneficial effect of the inducing drug. Understanding the mechanisms leading to DISRs may yield important insights into the immunopathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

The Burden of Comorbidity and Complexity in Sarcoidosis: Impact of Associated Chronic Diseases

PURPOSE

To evaluate comorbidity, complexity and poor outcomes in patients with sarcoidosis and to compare those scores with a control group.

METHODS

218 consecutive patients were diagnosed with sarcoidosis according to the ATS/ERS/WASOG criteria; extrathoracic involvement was evaluated using the 2014 WASOG organ assessment instrument. Sarcoidosis patients were compared with an age- and gender-matched control group of primary care outpatients without sarcoidosis. Comorbidities were assessed retrospectively using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI); complexity was evaluated according to the classification into Clinical Risk Groups (CRG) and severity levels.

RESULTS

The cohort included 142 women and 76 men; the mean age was 47.1 years at diagnosis of sarcoidosis and 55.9 years at the last visit. Patients with a CCI > 1 had a higher frequency of calcium/vitamin D abnormalities (p < 0.001), kidney involvement (p = 0.005) and a higher mortality rate (p < 0.001) compared with patients with a CCI ≤ 1. Patients with a CRG ≥ 6 had a higher frequency of extrathoracic involvement (p = 0.039), calcium/vitamin D abnormalities (p = 0.019) and treatment with glucocorticoids (p = 0.032) compared with patients with a CRG < 6. 11% patients died after a mean follow-up of 102.3 months. Country of birth, kidney involvement and extrathoracic disease were significantly associated with death. Patients with sarcoidosis had a higher frequency of liver (p < 0.001), pulmonary (p = 0.002) and autoimmune disease (p = 0.011) and cancer (p = 0.007) compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

We found higher rates of comorbidity and complexity in patients with sarcoidosis compared with a control group. Liver, pulmonary, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases were the main comorbidities found in patients with sarcoidosis.

Evaluating the mechanistic evidence and key data gaps in assessing the potential carcinogenicity of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers in humans

In an evaluation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the IARC Monograph 111, the Mechanisms Subgroup was tasked with assessing the strength of evidence on the potential carcinogenicity of CNTs in humans. The mechanistic evidence was considered to be not strong enough to alter the evaluations based on the animal data. In this paper, we provide an extended, in-depth examination of the in vivo and in vitro experimental studies according to current hypotheses on the carcinogenicity of inhaled particles and fibers. We cite additional studies of CNTs that were not available at the time of the IARC meeting in October 2014, and extend our evaluation to include carbon nanofibers (CNFs). Finally, we identify key data gaps and suggest research needs to reduce uncertainty. The focus of this review is on the cancer risk to workers exposed to airborne CNT or CNF during the production and use of these materials. The findings of this review, in general, affirm those of the original evaluation on the inadequate or limited evidence of carcinogenicity for most types of CNTs and CNFs at this time, and possible carcinogenicity of one type of CNT (MWCNT-7). The key evidence gaps to be filled by research include: investigation of possible associations between in vitro and early-stage in vivo events that may be predictive of lung cancer or mesothelioma, and systematic analysis of dose-response relationships across materials, including evaluation of the influence of physico-chemical properties and experimental factors on the observation of nonmalignant and malignant endpoints.