Multiple bone lesions in a patient with fatigue: case report of bone sarcoidosis

Acta Clin Belg. 2022 Jun;77(3):541-545. doi: 10.1080/17843286.2021.1903661. Epub 2021 Mar 28.

Abstract

Bone sarcoidosis is usually considered a rare manifestation of multisystemic sarcoidosis. With the growing use of more sensitive imaging techniques, such as 18F-FDG PET, the detection rate of bone involvement seems to be increasing. We describe the case of a woman presenting with fatigue and general malaise having multiple bone lesions on 18F-FDG PET. A broad range of differential diagnoses was considered, including malignancy, infections, metabolic diseases and primary bone tumours, which may have delayed the diagnosis. Diagnostic work-up eventually led to an anatomopathological diagnosis of bone sarcoidosis. Immunosuppressive therapy is often necessary since sarcoid bone lesions - even asymptomatic - generally appear in more extensive forms of the disease with other organ involvement.

Keywords: Sarcoidosis; bone; fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Fatigue / etiology
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18*
  • Humans
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sarcoidosis* / complications
  • Sarcoidosis* / diagnosis

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18