PULMONARY SARCOIDOSIS PRESENTING WITH CANNONBALL PATTERN MIMICKING LUNG METASTASES

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease that might affect many organs, thoracic involvement is common (up to 90% of cases). Radiological findings are typical and well known by all. However, atypical findings exist and could be misleading. A 63 year old male patient was admitted to our department, he has been suffering from exertional dyspnea and dry cough, a CT scan has shown bilateral mediastinal lymphadenopathy and multiple pulmonary nodules defining a cannonball pattern, the most likely diagnosis was lung metastases. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis was finally made on clinical, radiological and histological criteria after having ruled out a malignancy, an impressive improvement was noticed under corticotherapy. The aim of this article is to shed the light on the polymorphism that sarcoidosis could present with, which might sometimes mimic a serious illness such as cancer. This latter should be excluded by performing the appropriate investigations.