Description

Sarcoidosis is a multi-system granulomatous disease that exhibits extremely heterogeneous manifestations. Although the lungs are the most commonly involved organs the extension of the granulomatous inflammation may also affect the bones. Almost any bone can be involved; curiously,
the small bones of the hands and feet are most frequently affected. Diagnosis and recognition of osseous sarcoidosis is straight forward if typical bone lesions occur in a patient with multi-system disease; however, a solitary bone lesion almost always requires a bone biopsy to firmly establish the diagnosis. Corticosteroids, antimalarials, and immunosuppressive drugs (methotexate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide) may control pain, reduce swelling, and subdue granulomatous inflammation, but on the whole, therapy is disappointing.>Sarcoidosis is a multi-system granulomatous disease that exhibits extremely heterogeneous manifestations. Although the lungs are the most commonly involved organs the extension of the granulomatous inflammation may also affect the bones. Almost any bone can be involved; curiously, the small bones of the hands and feet are most frequently affected. Diagnosis and recognition of osseous sarcoidosis is straight forward if typical bone lesions occur in a patient with multi-system disease; however, a solitary bone lesion almost always requires a bone biopsy to firmly establish the diagnosis. Corticosteroids, antimalarials, and
immunosuppressive drugs (methotexate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide) may control pain, reduce swelling, and
subdue granulomatous inflammation, but on the whole, therapy is disappointing.