[A case of sarcoidosis manifesting as annular opacities after multiple nodular shadows]

A 40-year old man was admitted to our hospital because nodular shadows in the right upper lung field had shown deterioration on chest radiographs during a regular check-up (Sep. 28, 2000). Transbronchial lung biopsy specimens showed findings compatible with sarcoidosis. During follow-up, the nodular shadows became bigger, spread in both lung fields and turned into multiple annular opacities. In December, lung biopsy specimens obtained by VATS showed central areas of ground-glass attenuation corresponding to areas of alveolar septal inflammation, in contrast to the denser periphery, where polypoid organized granulation tissue in peripheral air spaces predominated. After 2 months, the opacities disappeared without treatment. In our case, the annular opacities on CT corresponded histologically to BOOP. It is interesting to note the relationship between sarcoidosis and BOOP.