Tuberc Respir Dis.  2008 Feb;64(2):149-152.

A Case of Pseudoalveolar Sarcoidosis with Unilateral Pulmonary Infiltration

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. droij@chonnam.ac.kr

Abstract

A sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disorder that has a predilection for pulmonary involvement, and the common radiological findings for the disease are bilateral nodular or reticulonodular patterns. Pseudoalveolar sarcoidosis is a rare presentation of sarcoidosis. The radiological finding is an alveolar pattern that involves or compresses the alveoli by clustered interstitial granuloma. A 58-year-old man was admitted due to incidental findings of a unilateral consolidative lesion as seen on chest radiography. A chest computed tomography (CT) examination showed multiple bronchoalveolar consolidations that were suspicious of a malignancy. However, a percutaneous needle biopsy revealed non-caseating granuloma with an asteroid body that was compatible with sarcoidosis. After one month, the consolidative lesions improved without any treatment.

Keyword

Pseudoalveolar; Sarcoidosis; Unilateral

MeSH Terms

Biopsy, Needle
Granuloma
Humans
Incidental Findings
Middle Aged
Sarcoidosis
Thorax

Figure

  • Figure 1 (A) Initial chest X-ray shows a consolidation of the right lower lung field. (B) A follow-up chest X-ray (1 month later) shows a partial resolution of consolidation of the right lower lung field.

  • Figure 2 (A, B) Initial chest HRCT scans shows a mass-like opacity in the superior and posterobasal segment of the right lower lobe. (C, D) Follow-up chest HRCT (4 months later) scans shows a resolution of previous lesions in the superior and posterobasal segment of the right lower lobe.

  • Figure 3 The pathologic findings of transthoracic needle biopsy reveals (A) chronic non-caseatng granulomatous inflammation and giant cell (H&E stain, ×200). (B) In high power field, there is a asteroid body (white arrow) in giant cell (H&E stain, ×400).


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