Pleural Involvement in Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract Background: Sarcoidosis is a chronic, multisystemic granulomatosis of unknown origin that can affect multiple organs throughout the body with variable progression and prognosis. Although the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes are almost always affected in sarcoidosis, involvement of the pleura remains uncommon.Case presentation: A 69-year-old female presented with dry cough, dyspnea on exertion and fatigue. She was diagnosed with pleural sarcoidosis based on the histological examination of the pleural biopsy and was treated with oral prednisone. Her complaints regressed two weeks later and the left pleural effusion almost disappeared four weeks later.Conclusions: Pleural involvements in sarcoidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion and pleural nodules.