Dactylitis Due to Subcutaneous Sarcoidosis as a Manifestation of Sarcoidosis

Dactylitis, or sausage fingers or toes, refers to the swelling of 1 or more digits. Sarcoid dactylitis is an uncommon form that tends to be caused by granulomatous bone involvement in the underlying phalanges. Sarcoid dactylitis can, however, clinically resemble subcutaneous sarcoidosis with finger or toe involvement. We describe 5 patients with dactylitis due to subcutaneous sarcoidosis of the fingers. In all cases, the proximal phalanges were involved; sarcoid dactylitis, by contrast, tends to affect the medial and distal phalanges. Differential diagnosis is important, as dactylitis due to bone involvement tends to be much more persistent and is generally seen in chronic forms of sarcoidosis.