A reevaluation of intrathoracic lymphadenopathy in sarcoidosis

Chest radiographs of 62 patients with sarcoidosis and intrathoracic lymphadenopathy were evaluated retrospectively for anatomic distribution of lymph nodes. All but two cases had bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. Approximately 75% of the patients had nodal enlargement in the right paratracheal or aortopulmonic window regions and about 20% in the subcarinal or anterior mediastinal areas. The most frequent combination of lymphadenopathy, found in 37% of cases, included the aortopulmonic window, bilateral hilar, and right paratracheal regions. Right paratracheal and bilateral hilar lymph node enlargement was seen in only three patients. Aortopulmonic window nodes were almost always found with hilar or hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Anterior mediastinal or subcarinal involvement was never found without some combination of right paratracheal, bilateral hillar, and aortopulmonic window lymphadenopathy. We therefore conclude that aortopulmonic window, anterior mediastinal, or subcarinal lymph node enlargement often accompany the characteristic lymphadenopathy of sarcoidosis.