A Case of Sarcoidosis diagnosed by Percutaneous Needle Biopsy of the Multiple Splenic nodules and Transbronchial Lung Biopsy

Abstract

The frequency of detecting multiple nodular lesions of the spleen is increasing with the availability of diagnostic tools such as echography and CT. However, it is very difficult to make a definite diagnosis without pathological information. We reported a case of 65-year-old male with asymptomatic multiple nodular lesions in the spleen. He underwent a diagnostic percutaneous needle biospsy of the spleen without any complications. Pathological findings suggested sarcoidosis, which was subsequently confirmed by transbronchial lung biopsy. It has been reported that splenic sarcoid lesions could be found in up to 33% of autopsied sarcoidsis cases, although they rarely caused clinical symptoms during lifetime. Therefore, sarcoidosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of incidental multiple splenic lesions. In such cases, we believe that needle biopsy of the spleen is a simple and safe means of definite diagnosis.