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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
08:32
Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models
Published on: March 1, 2015
Liver sarcoidosis that presented with dysphagia
Miharu Samuraki1, Takuya Nakahashi, Shou Aoyama
1Department of Internal Medicine, Toyama City Hospital, Toyama, Japan. kimiharu@beige.plala.or.jp
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|July 2, 2008
Summary
This case study highlights liver sarcoidosis presenting with neurological symptoms like dysphagia. A liver biopsy confirmed sarcoidosis, proving its diagnostic value even without gastrointestinal signs.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
Background:
- Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease often affecting the lungs, but can present with diverse symptoms.
- Neurological involvement in sarcoidosis (neurosarcoidosis) can be challenging to diagnose, especially when imaging is inconclusive.
Observation:
- A patient presented with dysphagia, soft palate akinesia, absent palatal reflex, and pyramidal signs, suggesting brainstem lesions.
- Initial investigations including brain MRI were normal, and lung biopsy showed no abnormalities.
- Ocular (iritis), salivary (parotiditis), and nodal (hilar lymphadenopathy) findings supported a sarcoidosis diagnosis.
Findings:
- Despite negative lung biopsy, liver biopsy revealed microgranulomas, confirming hepatic sarcoidosis.
- The neurological symptoms were attributed to potential, sub-radiographic brainstem microgranulomas.
Implications:
- This case underscores the utility of liver biopsy in diagnosing sarcoidosis, particularly when initial investigations are non-diagnostic.
- It suggests that neurological manifestations of sarcoidosis can occur without clear imaging findings and in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms.
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