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04:44
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Extra-pulmonary manifestations of sarcoidosis
V Vardhanabhuti1, N Venkatanarasimha, G Bhatnagar
1Radiology Department, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
Clinical Radiology
|November 19, 2011
Summary
Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disease, not just confined to the lungs. This review details the diverse imaging findings of extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis and its emerging role in nuclear medicine.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Multisystemic Diseases
Background:
- Sarcoidosis diagnosis traditionally focused on pulmonary manifestations.
- Extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis affects multiple organ systems, presenting non-specific imaging findings.
- Limited reviews comprehensively cover all extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis imaging features.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review imaging features of extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis.
- To highlight characteristic and atypical presentations across various organ systems.
- To discuss the role of nuclear medicine in sarcoidosis evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of imaging findings in extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis.
- Analysis of characteristic and atypical radiological presentations.
- Inclusion of emerging nuclear medicine techniques.
Main Results:
- Extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis exhibits diverse, often non-specific, imaging findings in subcutaneous tissue, neurological, cardiac, gastrointestinal, urological, liver, spleen, and skeletal systems.
- Characteristic imaging patterns are presented alongside atypical manifestations.
- Nuclear medicine shows promise in sarcoidosis diagnosis and management.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive understanding of extra-pulmonary sarcoidosis imaging is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
- Radiologists and clinicians should consider sarcoidosis in the differential diagnosis of unexplained findings in multiple organ systems.
- Nuclear medicine offers a valuable, evolving tool for evaluating sarcoidosis.
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