Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis

Pulmonary sarcoidosis is one of the most common interstitial lung diseases. The prevalence in Russia is 10-20 per 100 thousand population. Overwhelmingly it is found among working age population, and the peak of morbidity is 30-40 years. In half of the cases, sarcoidosis occurs in oligosymptomatic form. According to research conducted by our scientists, the adverse course of the disease with exacerbations and progressive decrease in pulmonary function found in 27,3% of patients. The diagnosis is based on clinical, X-ray and histological examination. Material for histological study was prepared depending on the extent of the process. Preference is given to minimally invasive methods of biopsy: transbronchial puncture of intrathoracic lymph nodes, peripheral lymph nodes, bone marrow aspiration, skin sarcoid items, etc. In the case of the intrathoracic localization of the disease, the treatment of choice is videothoracoscopy. The detection of epithelioid cell granuloma without necrosis confirms the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. First of all it is necessary to exclude tuberculosis, oncohematological diseases, disseminated lung diseases, combined with alveolitis syndrome and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. The primary diagnosis should be carried out under conditions of a multifunctional clinic. The verification of the pulmonary sarcoidosis should be held in close cooperation of different specialists: pulmonologists, radiologists, thoracic surgeons, pathologists, etc. Further treatment of the patient should be implemented by the pulmonologist in the place of residence. A clinical case of late diagnosis of diffuse diseases of connective tissue, which at its beginning started under the mask of sarcoidosis is demonstrated. The main mistake that led to deep disability of the patient, was absence of timely histological verification of the diagnosis.