51. Sarcoidosis Involving the Gastrointestinal Tract: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Management.
- Author
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Brito-Zerón P, Bari K, Baughman RP, and Ramos-Casals M
- Subjects
- Deglutition Disorders etiology, Duodenal Diseases diagnosis, Duodenal Diseases pathology, Duodenal Diseases therapy, Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal, Esophageal Achalasia diagnosis, Esophageal Achalasia etiology, Esophageal Achalasia pathology, Esophageal Achalasia therapy, Esophageal Diseases complications, Esophageal Diseases diagnosis, Esophageal Diseases pathology, Esophageal Diseases therapy, Esophageal Mucosa pathology, Gastrointestinal Diseases complications, Gastrointestinal Diseases pathology, Gastrointestinal Diseases therapy, Glucocorticoids therapeutic use, Humans, Ileal Diseases diagnosis, Ileal Diseases pathology, Ileal Diseases therapy, Immunosuppressive Agents therapeutic use, Jejunal Diseases diagnosis, Jejunal Diseases pathology, Jejunal Diseases therapy, Lymphadenopathy complications, Mediastinum, Myenteric Plexus, Myotomy, Polyps diagnosis, Polyps pathology, Polyps therapy, Proton Pump Inhibitors therapeutic use, Sarcoidosis complications, Sarcoidosis pathology, Sarcoidosis therapy, Stomach Diseases diagnosis, Stomach Diseases pathology, Stomach Diseases therapy, Gastrointestinal Diseases diagnosis, Sarcoidosis diagnosis
- Abstract
Involvement of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is an infrequent extrathoracic presentation of sarcoidosis. We reviewed 305 cases of GI involvement reported in 238 patients, in whom GI sarcoidosis was the first sign of the disease in half the cases. The disease does not affect the GI tract uniformly, with a clear oral-anal gradient (80% of reported cases involved the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum). Clinicopathological mechanisms of damage may include diffuse mucosal infiltration, endoluminal exophytic lesions, involvement of the myenteric plexus, and extrinsic compressions. Ten percent of patients presented with asymptomatic or subclinical disease found on endoscopy. The diagnosis is relevant clinically because 22% of cases reviewed presented as life threatening. In addition, initial clinical/endoscopic findings may be highly suggestive of GI cancer. The therapeutic approach is heterogeneous and included wait-and-see or symptomatic approaches, glucocorticoid/immunosuppressive therapy, and surgery. Sarcoidosis of the gut is a heterogeneous, potentially life-threatening condition that requires a multidisciplinary approach and early clinical suspicion to institute personalized therapeutic management and follow-up.
- Published
- 2019
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