Diagnosis

Sarcoidosis can be difficult to diagnose because the disease often produces few signs and symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do occur, they may mimic those of other disorders.

Your doctor will likely start with a physical exam and discuss your symptoms. He or she will also listen carefully to your heart and lungs, check your lymph nodes for swelling, and examine any skin lesions.

Diagnostic tests can help exclude other disorders and determine what body systems may be affected by sarcoidosis. Your doctor may recommend tests such as:

• Blood and urine tests to assess your overall health and how well your kidneys and liver are functioning
• Chest X-ray to check your lungs and heart
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest to check your lungs
• Lung (pulmonary) function tests to measure lung volume and how much oxygen your lungs deliver to your blood
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to detect heart problems and monitor the heart's status
• Eye exam to check for vision problems that may be caused by sarcoidosis
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if sarcoidosis seems to be affecting your heart or central nervous system

Other tests may be added, if needed.

Biopsies

Your doctor may order a small sample of tissue (biopsy) be taken from a part of your body believed to be affected by sarcoidosis to look for the granulomas commonly seen with the condition. For example, biopsies can be taken from your skin if you have skin lesions and from the lungs and lymph nodes if needed.