SPLENOMEGALY IN SARCOIDOSIS - A REPORT OF 16 CASES

The reported frequency of splenomegaly in sarcoidosis has ranged from 1% to 40%. Splenomegaly has been associated with clinical evidence of more extensive extrathoracic sarcoidosis. In a previous study, we repo rted that splenomegaly was associated with a poor outcome of the disea se. The aim of the present study was to describe the characteristics o f the sarcoidosis patients with splenomegaly seen at our institution. Of 284 sarcoidosis patients, followed up at our hospital, 16 (5.6%) ha d splenomegaly on physical examination. These patients showed other ex trathoracic manifestations as well, and all but two showed intrathorac ic involvement. Eleven patients received corticosteroid therapy. Splen ectomy was done in three patients, but the natural history of their sa rcoidosis remained unaltered two years after diagnosis. The results of this study disclosed that patients with splenomegaly had evidence of extensive pulmonary and extrathoracic sarcoidosis with a poor prognosi s in spite of steroid therapy.