A Case of Gastrointestinal Sarcoidosis without Pulmonary Involvement

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology that is based on the presence of non-caseating granulomas. Sarcoidosis commonly involves the lungs, skin, and eyes. Gastrointestinal tract involvement in sarcoidosis is uncommon. Gastrointestinal tract sarcoidosis commonly occurs subclinically, with clinical manifestations present in only 0.1-0.9% of patients with the disease. There are rare case reports of an individual with symptomatic gastrointestinal sarcoidosis. In Korea, gastrointestinal sarcoidosis without pulmonary involvement has not been reported previously. Here, we describe a case of gastrointestinal sarcoidosis in a 37-year-old male with symptoms of weight loss, fever, and abdominal pain. He was diagnosed based on the presence of non-caseating epithelioid granulomas in the stomach, duodenum, and colon by multiple biopsies. (Korean J Med 2015;89:127-132)