Diagnosis
Sarcoidosis can be hard to diagnose because there may not be many symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do occur, they may be much like those of other conditions.
Your healthcare professional does a physical exam and talks with you about your symptoms and possible risk factors. The healthcare professional also listens to your heart and lungs, checks your lymph nodes for swelling, and looks at any skin lesions.
No tests can specifically diagnose sarcoidosis. Tests can help rule out other conditions and show what body systems may be affected by sarcoidosis. For example, you may have:
- Blood and urine tests to check your overall health and how well your kidneys and liver are working.
- Chest X-ray to look at your lungs and heart.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest to look at your lungs.
- Lung function tests, also called pulmonary function tests, to measure how much air you can breathe in and out and how much oxygen your lungs send to your blood.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) and cardiac ultrasound to check for heart problems and look at your heart's health.
- 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 may be affecting your heart or central nervous system.
Other tests may be added, if needed.
Biopsy
Your healthcare professional may take a small sample of tissue called a biopsy. The sample is taken from any part of your body that may be affected by sarcoidosis. The sample is used to look for the granulomas commonly seen with the condition. For example, biopsies can be taken from your skin, lungs and lymph nodes.
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Treatment
There's no cure for sarcoidosis, but often sarcoidosis goes away on its own. You may not need treatment if you have no symptoms or only mild symptoms. If you need treatment, the type of treatment you have depends on how severe your symptoms are and what organs are affected. Treatment can lessen the body's immune system response and inflammation.
Medicines
If your symptoms are severe or affected organs aren't working properly, you may need medicines. These can include:
- Corticosteroids. These powerful medicines lessen inflammation. They're usually the first treatment tried for sarcoidosis. The medicine can be given as pills or shots. In some cases, corticosteroids can be put directly on the affected area. Examples of these types of medicines include cream put on skin lesions or rash, medicine breathed into the lungs using an inhaler, and drops put into the eyes.
- Medicines that lower the immune system's response. Medicines such as methotrexate (Trexall) and azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran) lessen inflammation by lowering the immune system's response to a trigger.
- Hydroxychloroquine. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) may be helpful for skin lesions and high blood-calcium levels.
- Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors. These medicines are commonly used to treat inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis. They also can be helpful in treating sarcoidosis that hasn't responded to other treatments.
Other medicines may be used to treat specific symptoms or complications.
Other treatments
Depending on your symptoms or complications, you may need other treatments. For example, you may have:
- Physical therapy to lessen tiredness and strengthen muscles.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation to help ease breathing and do more activities.
- Implanted cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator for heart rhythm problems.
An organ transplant may be an option for some people if sarcoidosis has severely damaged the lungs, heart or liver.
Ongoing monitoring
How often you see your healthcare professional varies based on your symptoms and treatment. Seeing your healthcare professional regularly is important ― even if you don't need treatment.
Your healthcare professional monitors your symptoms and checks to see if you need treatment, how treatments are working and if you have complications. Ongoing monitoring may include tests based on your condition. For example, you may have regular chest X-rays, blood and urine tests, EKGs, and exams of your lungs, eyes, skin and other organs. Follow-up care is likely lifelong.
Clinical trials
Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Lifestyle and home remedies
Along with your treatment, these self-care tips can help:
- Follow your treatment plan. Even if you start to feel better, don't stop taking your medicine without talking with your healthcare professional. Keep all follow-up appointments. Let your healthcare professional know if you have new or worsening symptoms.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices. These can include eating a healthy diet, working toward or keeping a healthy weight, managing stress, and getting enough sleep.
- Get regular physical activity. Regular physical activity or exercise can raise your mood, strengthen muscles and help lessen tiredness that can get in the way of your daily activities.
- Avoid lung irritants. As much as possible, stay away from smoke, dust, chemicals and other substances that irritate your lungs. If you smoke, talk with your healthcare professional about ways to quit.
Coping and support
Although sarcoidosis may go away on its own, some people's lives are forever changed by the condition. If you find it hard to cope with these changes, talk with a counselor or other mental health professional. Joining a sarcoidosis support group also may help.
Preparing for your appointment
Because sarcoidosis often involves the lungs, you may be referred to a lung specialist called a pulmonologist to manage your care. You may see other specialists too. Taking a family member or friend along can help you remember information.
What you can do
Here are some tips to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your healthcare professional.
Before your appointment, make a list of:
- Your symptoms, including when they started and how they may have changed or worsened over time.
- All medicines, vitamins, herbs or supplements you take. Include the doses.
- Key medical information, including other medical conditions you have.
- Questions to ask your healthcare professional.
Questions to ask may include:
- What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
- What kinds of tests do I need? Do I need to do anything special to get ready for these tests?
- How might this condition affect me?
- What treatments are available? Which do you recommend?
- Will I take medicine that might help?
- How long will I need to take medicine?
- What are some of the side effects of the medicine you're suggesting?
- I have other health conditions. How can we best manage these conditions?
- What can I do to help myself?
- Are there any brochures or other printed materials that I can have?
- What websites do you suggest for more information?
Feel free to ask other questions during your appointment.
What to expect from your doctor
Your healthcare professional may ask you:
- What types of symptoms do you have? When did they start?
- What, if anything, makes your symptoms worse?
- What, if anything, makes your symptoms better?
- Has anyone in your family ever had sarcoidosis?
- What health conditions do you have now, or have you had in the past?
- What medicines or supplements do you take?
- Have you had jobs or hobbies that included being around substances such as chemicals, fumes or dust?
- Have you had any infections or other illnesses?
Be ready to answer questions so that you have time to talk about what's most important to you.
Jan. 28, 2025