Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
08:34
Robot-assisted Partial Splenectomy
Published on: January 2, 2026
Splenic sarcoidosis.
1Dept. of Radiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 2016 Old Clinic Bldg., CB #7510, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7510, USA. david_warshauer@med.unc.edu
Seminars in Ultrasound, CT, and MR
|March 21, 2007
Summary
Sarcoidosis can affect the spleen, causing enlargement or nodules that mimic other serious conditions. Definitive diagnosis of splenic sarcoidosis may require a biopsy.
Area of Science:
- Internal Medicine
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease with an unknown etiology.
- Splenic involvement in sarcoidosis can manifest as splenomegaly or splenic nodules.
- Splenic sarcoidosis presentation can mimic neoplastic or infectious diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the imaging characteristics of splenic sarcoidosis.
- To emphasize the diagnostic challenges posed by splenic sarcoidosis.
- To underscore the importance of biopsy for definitive diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of imaging findings in patients with confirmed splenic sarcoidosis.
- Correlation of imaging findings with clinical and pathological data.
- Analysis of differential diagnostic considerations.
Main Results:
- Splenic sarcoidosis can present as homogeneous splenomegaly or multiple splenic nodules.
- A normal chest radiograph is observed in 25-33% of patients with splenic sarcoidosis.
- Imaging findings can resemble more severe conditions like cancer or infections.
Conclusions:
- Splenic sarcoidosis is a potential diagnosis in patients with unexplained splenomegaly or splenic nodules.
- Radiographic findings alone may not be sufficient for diagnosis due to overlapping appearances.
- Biopsy of the spleen or other affected organs is often necessary for a definitive diagnosis of sarcoidosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare heart muscle disease characterized by impaired ventricular filling due to stiffened ventricular walls, leading to significant diastolic dysfunction.EtiologyRestrictive cardiomyopathy can arise from both inherited and acquired diseases, many of which are systemic. It is categorized into four main types: infiltrative, storage, non-infiltrative, and endomyocardial diseases.Infiltrative diseases, such as amyloidosis, lead to RCM by depositing amyloid...
01:31Pulmonary Tuberculosis III
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection primarily affecting the lung parenchyma but which can also affect other body parts. TB can be classified based on disease development, presentation, and the affected anatomical site.
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
01:17Gastritis-II: Pathophysiology
Gastritis is marked by disruption of the mucosal barrier that usually protects the stomach tissue from digestive juices and manifests in acute and chronic forms.
In acute gastritis, the gastric mucosa becomes swollen and red and undergoes superficial erosion. Superficial ulceration may lead to bleeding.
In chronic gastritis, persistent or repeated insults lead to chronic inflammatory changes and, eventually, thinning or atrophy of the gastric tissue.
Gastritis can stem from various causes, each...
In acute gastritis, the gastric mucosa becomes swollen and red and undergoes superficial erosion. Superficial ulceration may lead to bleeding.
In chronic gastritis, persistent or repeated insults lead to chronic inflammatory changes and, eventually, thinning or atrophy of the gastric tissue.
Gastritis can stem from various causes, each...
01:30Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is a protozoal disease caused by species of the genus Leishmania and transmitted through the bite of infected female sandflies. The parasite exists in two principal morphological forms during its life cycle. A sandfly acquires intracellular amastigotes from an infected reservoir host, such as a dog. Within the sandfly, these forms differentiate into motile, flagellated promastigotes. During a subsequent blood meal, promastigotes are injected into the human host, where they...
01:15Secondary Lymphoid Organs
Secondary organs, including lymph nodes, the spleen, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), work harmoniously to protect us from disease and infection.
The spleen is a vital organ in the lymphatic system, nestled in the upper left side of the abdomen. It is composed of two primary regions: the red pulp and the white pulp, each having distinct functions. The red pulp performs a significant role in blood filtration. It efficiently purges the blood of old or damaged red blood cells and...
The spleen is a vital organ in the lymphatic system, nestled in the upper left side of the abdomen. It is composed of two primary regions: the red pulp and the white pulp, each having distinct functions. The red pulp performs a significant role in blood filtration. It efficiently purges the blood of old or damaged red blood cells and...
01:26Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.