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Central skeletal sarcoidosis mimicking metastatic disease

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Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease that histologically typically shows non-caseating granulomas. The most common radiologic finding is hilar and mediastinal adenopathy. Patients with widely disseminated disease may show involvement of the peripheral appendicular skeleton in 1–13% of such cases. A primary skeletal presentation without other manifestations typical of the disease is rare. We present a case of sarcoidosis in a middle-aged Caucasian man in whom the disease presented with widespread lytic lesions in the axial skeleton and long bones, mimicking metastatic disease. There was no involvement of the peripheral skeleton, skin or lungs.

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Dr. Vincent Pellegrini (Orthopaedic Surgery), Dr. Navin Todd (Pulmonary Medicine) and Dr. Jon Finan (Anatomic Pathology) for their contributions to this patient’s care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 22 S. Greene St., Room N2W78, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Danit Talmi, Stacy Smith & Michael E. Mulligan

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  1. Danit Talmi
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  2. Stacy Smith
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  3. Michael E. Mulligan
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Correspondence to Michael E. Mulligan.

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Talmi, D., Smith, S. & Mulligan, M.E. Central skeletal sarcoidosis mimicking metastatic disease. Skeletal Radiol 37, 757–761 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-008-0479-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-008-0479-7

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