Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis with and without extrapulmonary involvement

Three cases of necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis (NSG) are reported. All 3 patients had pulmonary lesions; one of them had additional extrapulmonary lesions which were ophthalmologic (dacryoadenitis) and digestive (ulcerative colitis). This patient was followed for 5 years and developed several respiratory, ophthalmologic and digestive recurrences. In 2 cases the diagnosis of NSG had been initially overlooked and the authors emphasize the difficulties of this histologic diagnosis in terms of the differential diagnosis with other necrotic and granulomatous pulmonary diseases such as tuberculosis and Wegener's granulomatosis. They stress the possibility of extrapulmonary lesions in NSG and discuss the relationship between NSG and sarcoidosis.