Abstract
Sarcoidosis is a chronic, multisystem, inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology that
is characterized by noncaseating granulomas that impair normal organ functioning.
Sarcoidosis predominantly affects the lungs, but the skin is often cited as the second
most frequently involved organ. Cutaneous manifestations of sarcoidosis are highly
variable and ongoing research seeks to better understand the relationship between
clinical morphology and disease prognosis. Skin findings in patients with sarcoidosis
can be “specific,” in which sarcoidal granulomas infiltrate the skin, or they can
represent a “nonspecific” reactive inflammatory process, as is seen in calcinosis
cutis and erythema nodosum. Cutaneous sarcoidosis can be the initial presenting sign
or develop later in the course of the disease. In some patients, the skin will be
the most involved and impactful organ system and will drive therapy. In other cases,
the skin will be an incidental or minor finding, but may be easily accessible for
biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. There are many potential therapies for sarcoidosis,
though no one therapy is universally effective.
Keywords
sarcoidosis - lupus pernio - noncaseating granuloma - Lofgren's syndrome - erythema
nodosum - cutaneous sarcoidosis
