[Hilar adenopathy compressing the pulmonary arteries in the course of sarcoidosis]

In pulmonary sarcoidosis, vascular involvement is usually limited to the small and medium-sized vessels. Enlarged hilar lymph nodes are usually considered to be soft and hence unlikely to cause pressure on adjacent bronchi or blood vessels.

We report a rare symptomatic compression of a major pulmonary artery by lymphadenopathy in a case of sarcoidosis. Our patient presented with exertional dyspnoea, with enlarged hilar lymph nodes responsible for segmental pulmonary arterial hypertension, without other thoracic abnormalities. The symptoms and lymphadenopathy regressed with corticosteroid therapy.

Enlarged hilar lymph nodes can compress major pulmonary arteries and cause segmental pulmonary hypertension. The prognosis can be grave in the absence of treatment.