Imaging the inflammatory activity of sarcoidosis

Accurate assessment of pulmonary and extrapulmonary organ involvement in sarcoidosis is one of the great challenges for clinicians. This assessment includes the evaluation of symptoms and of sarcoidosis activity in a specific organ and its functional consequences. In this review, radiological and nuclear techniques to image the inflammatory activity of sarcoidosis are described, in particular (18)F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography. The current use of this technique in clinical practice is explained, particularly in patients with persistent symptoms, stage IV disease and cardiac sarcoidosis.