Sarcoidosis: current concepts and case reports

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology associated with various immune alterations and biochemical changes. This article reports recent advances in the conceptualization of the immune dysfunction with emphasis on helper T-cell overactivity in the lungs. Because 90 percent of patients with sarcoidosis have intrathoracic disease, the mode of presentation, radiographic findings, clinical course, and treatment of pulmonary involvement are discussed. Case reports are used to demonstrate the typical course of the disease and generally favorable outcome of the vast majority of patients seen in the non-referral setting. A rare case of neurosarcoidosis with neuroendocrine features is presented.