Reevaluating Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis: Biopsy with Necrosis in Mycobacterial Endemic Areas.

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disease with a variable presentation. The most characteristic feature of sarcoidosis is nonnecrotizing granulomas. However, when sarcoidosis presents with rare organ involvement, and biopsy shows necrosis, the diagnosis becomes challenging. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we present three cases of sarcoidosis with unusual organ involvement and biopsy findings of necrosis, leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Case 1 was presented with lymphoreticular involvement within the intraparotid lymph node and genitourinary area. Biopsy from the epididymis showed necrosis, initially leading to treatment for tuberculosis (TB). Case 2 describes lymphoreticular involvement and cardiac symptoms. His cervical and bone marrow biopsies showed necrosis. Case 3's presentation was disseminated lymphadenopathy with hepatosplenomegaly, initially suspected as malignancy or TB. CONCLUSION: While biopsy plays a significant role in diagnosing sarcoidosis, the presence of necrosis alone should not lead to its exclusion.

The Effect of Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus on White Matter Changes in MRI Brain: A Comparative Study between Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and an Age-matched Control Group.

BACKGROUND: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) on MRI brain in the periventricular and deep white matter regions are commonly seen in older persons with normal cognition and in patients with AD. AIMS: To compare presence and severity of WMHs in patients with AD with that in a cognitively normal control group, and to evaluate effect of presence of Hypertension and Diabetes on WMHs in both groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty four patients with AD were serially recruited from Neurology and Psychiatry OPDs. An age and gender matched cohort of 24 persons with MMSE over 27/30 from the community acted as controls. Vascular risk factors, MMSE and MRI brain were assessed in all. Fezeka's and Pasquier grading of WMH and atrophy were done. Periventricular WMHs (PVWMH) and Deep WMH (DWMH) were assessed separately. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Overall, Periventricular WMHs of grade 2 and over were seen in 19/34 patients, and in 7/24 controls (P value 0.044). Significantly higher grades of PVWMHs were seen in hypertensives as compared to nonhypertensives in the case group, and in women compared to men. In the control group, hypertension had no effect on severity of PVWMHs. Among both Diabetics and non-diabetics, no difference in PVWMHs was found between the case and control groups. DWMHs were, conversely, seen only in the control group. Overall, over a quarter of cognitively normal older persons had WM hyperintensities of grade 2 and over on MRI brain; 55% of AD patients had PVWMH of Gd 2 or over, and no DWMHs.