| Abstract [eng] |
Sarcoidosis is a systemic chronic granulomatous disease of unknown aetiology. It is characterized by the development of non-necrotizing granulomas in various organs, although the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes are most affected. The prevalence of the disease varies across different geographic regions depending on sex, age, and race. Genetic predisposition and environmental factors play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of sarcoidosis. Clinically, sarcoidosis often presents only with general symptoms, which in many cases are not specific to this disease. For this reason, radiological changes are critically important in the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis and in assessing its progression. Chest radiography is often the first radiological test by which sarcoidosis is diagnosed. The most characteristic findings of the disease—hilar lymphadenopathy and infiltrations in the lung parenchyma—are visible on radiographs; however, due to the low sensitivity of the method, detailed evaluation is limited. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the most sensitive radiological method for evaluating lung diseases and is therefore considered the first-choice test in sarcoidosis diagnostics. HRCT images accurately depict various structural changes characteristic of sarcoidosis and their extent. Positron emission tomography (PET) most precisely differentiates between active sarcoid lesions and metabolically inactive, and thus often clinically insignificant, disease complications. The use of radiological tests is limited by ionizing radiation exposure; therefore, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often chosen as an alternative method for disease monitoring. Radiological features characteristic of sarcoidosis may also appear in the diagnostics of other diseases. For this reason, a comprehensive assessment of radiological, clinical, laboratory, and other test data is critically important for accurate diagnosis and comprehensive patient care. This thesis presents radiological methods used in the diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis and discusses the challenges encountered in the diagnostic process. |
