Extrapulmonary sarcoidosis

The clinical manifestations of sarcoidosis are extremely heterogeneous and overlap with a wide gamut of infectious and noninfectious granulomatous disorders. Prognosis of sarcoidosis is highly variable. Spontaneous remissions occur in nearly two thirds of patients, but chronic, progressive disease may result in severe sequelae. Fatalities occur in 1% to 4% of patients. Pulmonary manifestations typically dominate, but any organ can be affected. Skin, eye, and peripheral lymph nodes are each involved in 20% to 30% of patients. Clinically significant involvement of spleen, liver, bone, heart, kidney, or central nervous system occurs in 2% to 6% of patients. Asymptomatic involvement of these organs is far more common. We review the salient extrapulmonary features of sarcoidosis, and compare and contrast specific features that may mimic other etiologies.