Aims-To investigate the relation between sarcoidosis and lymphoma. Met
hods-The hospital notes of five patients with sarcoidosis and a lympho
proliferative disorder were reviewed. Histological material on which t
he diagnoses of sarcoidosis and lymphoma were made was re-analysed. Re
sults-Four of the five patients had well documented sarcoidosis preced
ing the development of lymphoma by 18 months to 28 years; the fifth pa
tient had lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with a reactive granuloma reactio
n. Two patients had chronic sarcoidosis and three were treated with pr
ednisolone. The types of lymphoma were: Hodgkin's disease (n = 1), B c
ell lymphoma (n = 2) (mantle cell and lymphoplasmacytic/local plasmacy
toma) and large granular lymphocyte leukaemia (T cell) (n = 1). Conclu
sions-The association between sarcoidosis and lymphoma is confirmed, s
uggesting that sarcoidosis may be a predisposing factor for the develo
pment of a lymphoid malignancy due to disturbance of the immune system
. All types of lymphoma may develop. The first case of T cell granular
lymphocytic leukaemia in a patient with sarcoidosis has been document
ed.