Upper gastrointestinal sarcoidosis: Report of three cases

Abstract

Involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract in sarcoidosis is rare, and an optimal treatment regimen remains to be determined. Here, we report 3 cases of upper gastrointestinal sarcoidosis in Japanese patients aged 57-70 years with or without epigastric symptoms and describe the clinical features, laboratory data, and upper endoscopy and pathological findings. Upper gastrointestinal sarcoidosis was diagnosed based on the presence of noncaseating epithelioid cell granuloma in the lamina propria in the stomach or duodenum. In conclusion, the possibility of upper gastrointestinal sarcoidosis should be considered in patients with epigastric symptoms and a history of sarcoidosis, even in those with stable disease. © 2012 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.