Schaumann body in a case of sarcoidosis diagnosed on transbronchial FNAC

Sarcoid Uveitis: An Intriguing Challenger

The purpose of our work is to describe the actual knowledge concerning etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic procedures, complications and therapy of ocular sarcoidosis (OS). The study is based on a recent literature review and on the experience of our tertiary referral center. Data were retrospectively analyzed from the electronic medical records of 235 patients (461 eyes) suffering from a biopsy-proven ocular sarcoidosis. Middle-aged females presenting bilateral ocular involvement are mainly affected; eye involvement at onset is present in one-third of subjects. Uveitis subtype presentation ranges widely among different studies: panuveitis and multiple chorioretinal granulomas, retinal segmental vasculitis, intermediate uveitis and vitreitis, anterior uveitis with granulomatous mutton-fat keratic precipitates, iris nodules, and synechiae are the main ocular features. The most important complications are cataract, glaucoma, cystoid macular edema (CME), and epiretinal membrane. Therapy is based on the disease localization and the severity of systemic or ocular involvement. Local, intravitreal, or systemic steroids are the mainstay of treatment; refractory or partially responsive disease has to be treated with conventional and biologic immunosuppressants. In conclusion, we summarize the current knowledge and assessment of ophthalmological inflammatory manifestations (mainly uveitis) of OS, which permit an early diagnostic assay and a prompt treatment.

Diffuse bronchiectasis as the primary manifestation of endobronchial sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic disease that most commonly involves the lungs and is characterized by granulomatous inflammation. Bronchiectasis is one pulmonary manifestation of sarcoidosis, although it is almost always observed as traction bronchiectasis in the setting of fibrotic lung disease. A 50-year-old woman was evaluated for chronic cough and bronchiectasis with a small amount of peripheral upper lobe honeycombing and no significant pulmonary fibrosis or lymphadenopathy. After an extensive laboratory and imaging evaluation did not identify a cause of her bronchiectasis, bronchoscopy was performed to assess for primary ciliary dyskinesia and revealed a diffuse cobblestone appearance of the airway mucosa. Endobronchial biopsies and lymphocyte subset analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were consistent with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. We believe endobronchial sarcoidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with bronchiectasis.

Bilaterally enlarged parotids and sicca symptoms as a presentation of sarcoidosis: Pivotal role of aspiration cytology in diagnosis

Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystem inflammatory disease of unknown etiology characterized by widespread noncaseating granulomas in various organs. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis is based on cytological, clinicolaboratory, and radiological findings, and requires careful exclusion of other granulomatous diseases especially tuberculosis. Involvement of parotid glands is uncommon. Presentation of sarcoidosis with sicca symptoms that include dryness of eyes and mouth is an even rarer phenomenon. We present a case of multisystemic sarcoidosis presenting with dryness of eyes and mouth along with bilateral enlargement of parotid glands. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) smears showed epithelioid cell granulomas and multinucleate giant cells. Stain for acid-fast bacilli was negative. Careful cytological examination revealed crystalline structures inside the giant cells, which prompted us to evaluate the patient for sarcoidosis. This case report highlights the cytological features that can be useful in clinching the diagnosis of sarcoidosis in conjunction with clinicoradiological and laboratory findings in a clinically unusual case.

An extremely unusual presentation of isolated extrathoracic sarcoidosis of submandibular lymph node in a child

A 12-year-old male child presented with left submandibular lymphadenopathy; excision biopsy revealed noncaseating granuloma with numerous Schaumann bodies in histopathology, suggestive of isolated extrathoracic sarcoidosis, which is an extremely rare entity in the pediatric age group.