1/8. Gastric sarcoidosis presenting with haematemesis.sarcoidosis is a very rare disease in singapore. Sarcoid granuloma involving the stomach alone is even more rare, and only about 21 cases have been reported in the literature up to 1953 (Scott et alii, 1953). In a review of the literature, Wadina and Melamed (1966) found 34 cases of granulomatous involvement of the stomach, all purporting to be sarcoidosis. However, on closer examination of the evidence, many of these 34 cases of so-called sarcoidosis of the stomach were subject to doubt. Bleeding from gastric sarcoidosis is also rare, and only about eight cases have been reported in the literature up to 1970. The present report presents a further example of this rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and attempts to review the significance of sarcoid granulomas in the stomach.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/8. Intradural extramedullary mass formation in spinal cord sarcoidosis: case report and literature review.STUDY DESIGN: A case of myelopathy caused by intradural extramedullary spinal cord sarcoidosis. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case of mass formation in spinal cord sarcoidosis and discuss the diagnostic approach and therapeutic management of this condition. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: spinal cord sarcoidosis is a rare condition that is difficult to diagnose, and intradural extramedullary mass formation is even rarer. MATERIALS AND methods: A 42-year-old woman first noticed numbness in her fingers, and these symptoms gradually spread to her hands and feet. MRI revealed an intradural extramedullary mass, as confirmed by an isointensity T1 and low-intensity T2 signal, and also enhanced by Gd-DTPA. The authors suspected the mass to be a meningioma and performed surgery to resect it. RESULTS: The mass was observed through the dura, and it was twined with the rootlet. After surgery, the patient experienced temporary paralysis of her right upper extremity, followed rapidly by almost complete neurologic recovery. Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy was noted and this was diagnosed histologically as lung sarcoidosis. One year after surgery, a complete AV block occurred because of heart sarcoidosis and a pacemaker was inserted. CONCLUSIONS: spinal cord sarcoidosis is rare disease and is difficult to diagnose, but when a mass is present in the spinal canal, it is important to remain open to the possibility of spinal cord sarcoidosis. Besides if it is diagnosed as spinal cord sarcoidosis, it is also important to remain systemic sarcoidosis before, during, and after surgery to check general conditions and to guide appropriate treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/8. Neurosarcoidosis mimicking sjogren's syndrome.PURPOSE: To describe a patient with a long disease history who was finally diagnosed with neurosarcoidosis and to discuss the reasons behind the delayed diagnosis. CASE REPORT: A 58-year-old man with sick sinus syndrome and bradycardia, which was treated with a pacemaker, developed first right and then left facial palsy. Subsequently, multiple cranial nerve palsies developed and later spontaneously resolved. Neurosarcoidosis was suspected at that stage, but excluded because the patient had no typical sarcoid lung changes, his serum and cerebrospinal fluid angiotensin converting enzyme activity levels were normal and a computed tomography scan disclosed no central nervous system changes. During follow-up, the patient developed extremely dry eyes and mouth, suggesting sjogren's syndrome. rheumatology consultation did not reveal any autoimmune or visceral features typical of sjogren's syndrome and autoantibodies were negative. However, both labial salivary gland and conjunctival biopsies revealed non-caseating granulomas, and neurosarcoidosis was diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: Neurosarcoidosis is a relatively rare disease with a somewhat poor longterm prognosis in one-third of cases, although the neurological manifestations often diminish or disappear in response to glucocorticoid treatment. Diagnosis is often a clinical challenge, especially in the absence of pulmonary changes or other features typical of sarcoidosis. The labial salivary gland and conjunctiva provide helpful biopsy sites for histopathological confirmation of the diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/8. Scar sarcoidosis in childhood: case report and review of the literature.sarcoidosis is a rare disease among children, manifesting differently in children below and above 4-5 years of age. Although the exact incidence and prevalence of childhood sarcoidosis is not known, the cutaneous involvement is frequent in both children and adults. Infiltration of old cutaneous scars with sarcoid granuloma in the active phase of disease, known as scar sarcoidosis is one of the uncommon cutaneous manifestations of sarcoidosis. We report a case of scar sarcoidosis in an 11-year-old child along with a brief review of the literature.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/8. Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis. A case report with a discussion of differential diagnosis.The rare disease of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is characterized by innumerable microscopic stones, mainly of tribasic calcium phosphate, within the pulmonary alveoli. In a 13-year-old boy an earlier radiological examination showed diffuse lung opacity. The main differential diagnoses taken into consideration were sarcoidosis, idiopathic hemosiderosis, diffuse interstitial fibrosis and alveolar proteinosis. The correct diagnosis was made after a lung biopsy which showed intra-alveolar microliths. The radiological findings are in agreement with the reports in the literature. The specific X-ray features of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis are calcified opacities, nodules, hilifugal trabeculations and pleural striae. These radiological signs are sufficiently diagnostic to restrict lung biopsy to particularly difficult cases. The disease is resistant to all therapeutic measures.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/8. Sarcoid heart disease.Myocardial sarcoidosis is not a rare disease in the UK and it is still probably under-diagnosed. A high index of suspicion in necessary for diagnosis of myocardial sarcoidosis, which should be thought of in any unusual form of heart disease for which there is no adequate explanation, particularly if there are serious rhythm changes or unexplained heart failure. Mitral systolic murmurs occur frequently. Histological proof of the aetiology should be sought. The heart is frequently massively involved when other organs have little involvement. Most of these patients present with cardiac symptoms or signs and the high incidence of sudden death is disturbing. The high rate of occurrence in East Anglia is noted, and merits further study. Treatment should be energetic where indicated--but its effects are difficult to assess. This study, representing the largest single source of information on this topic, continues in the hope of shedding more light on a sinister disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/8. Primary sclerosing cholangitis in sarcoidosis.A 63-year-old patient with sarcoidosis developed a clinical picture compatible with sclerosing cholangitis 20 years later. The uncommon association between these two rare diseases, and possible common pathophysiological-immunological mechanisms are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/8. Abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with childhood sarcoidosis.Childhood sarcoidosis is a rare disease with multisystemic organ involvement. A wide spectrum of vasculitides, including large vessel involvement, have been reported in childhood sarcoidosis. We describe a 7-year-old boy with childhood sarcoidosis who presented with prolonged fever, iritis, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. He underwent successful surgical repair of the abdominal aortic aneurysm and followup for 12 months was uneventful. This is first report of abdominal aortic aneurysm complicating childhood sarcoidosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |