An Overview of Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis involves inflammation that produces tiny lumps of cells in various organs in your body. The lumps are called granulomas because they look like grains of sugar or sand. They are very small and can be seen only with a microscope.
These tiny granulomas can grow and clump together, making several large and small groups of lumps. If many granulomas form in an organ, they can affect how the organ works. This can cause symptoms of sarcoidosis.
Sarcoidosis is not a form of cancer.
Sarcoidosis was once thought to be an uncommon condition. It's now known to affect tens of thousands of people throughout the United States. Because many people who have sarcoidosis have no symptoms, it's hard to know the exact number of people who have the condition.
Organs Affected by Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis can occur in almost any part of your body, although it usually affects some organs more than others. Sarcoidosis usually starts in one of two places:
- Lungs
- Lymph nodes, especially the lymph nodes in your chest cavity.
Sarcoidosis also often affects the:
Less often, sarcoidosis affects the:
- Spleen
- Brain
- Nerves
- Heart
- Tear glands
- Salivary glands
- Bones and joints.
In rare cases, sarcoidosis affects other organs, including the:
- Thyroid gland
- Breasts
- Kidneys
- Reproductive organs.
Sarcoidosis almost always occurs in more than one organ at a time.
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