Asymptomatic stage I sarcoidosis complicated by pulmonary tuberculosis: a case report

Georgios S Papaetis , Angelos Pefanis , Solon Solomon , Ioannis Tsangarakis , Dora Orphanidou and Apostolos Achimastos

3rd Department of Medicine, University of Athens, Medical School, 'Sotiria' General Hospital, Athens, Greece

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Journal of Medical Case Reports 2008, 2:226doi:10.1186/1752-1947-2-226


Published:	7 July 2008

Abstract

Introduction

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder characterized pathologically by the presence of non-caseating granulomas in involved tissues. Depressed cellular immunity predisposes patients to infections with certain intracellular organisms, mostly fungi, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Nocardia species. As these infections are mainly insidious and difficult to differentiate from the underlying disease, a possible misdiagnosis may lead to fatal complications for the patient.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 67-year-old woman with undiagnosed asymptomatic stage I sarcoidosis for at least 8 years before her admission and a 1-month history of fever, exertional dyspnea and dry cough, in whom pulmonary tuberculosis was documented.

Conclusion

This case highlights the need for great vigilance among physicians in order to rule out any possible infection before establishing the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.