[Sarcoidosis--a multisystem disorder with variable prognosis]

Sarcoidosis is a pneumotropic granulomatous inflammatory multisystem disorder of unknown origin and heterogeneous outcome. In most cases the disease is self-limited, others progress or die from organ involvement, which is often associated with extensive pulmonary scarring or relevant extrapulmonary organ involvement. Therefore, patients with sarcoidosis must be staged for multiorgan involvement. Modern treatment strategies appraise a critical awareness for the effect to side-effect-ratio of long-term immunosuppressive medication.