Sarcoidosis: an Extremely Rare Cause of Granulomatous Enterocolitis

Abstract

Clinically recognizable gastrointestinal (GI) system involvement with sarcoidosis is extremely rare. We present a case of a 51-year-old Caucasian male who was evaluated for abdominal pain, elevated liver enzymes, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, severe peripheral arthralgias, and chronic watery diarrhea. He had a history of mediastinal and periaortic lymphadenopathy. Extensive laboratory work up for liver diseases, infections, malabsorption and a bone marrow biopsy was essentially unremarkable. Eso-gastroduodenoscopy was unremarkable. Colonoscopy showed scattered right colon ulcerations and erythema. The terminal ileum appeared normal. Biopsies from the duodenum, terminal ileum, and colon showed intramucosal non-caseating granulomas with focal multinucleate giant cell formation in a background of chronic active duodenitis, ileitis, and colitis. Liver biopsy showed moderate non-specific chronic hepatitis with non-caseating granulomas present within portal and lobular parenchyma. The clinical presentations, along with biopsy results were suggestive of sarcoidosis. The patient was started on prednisone and had a significant improvement in his symptoms including diarrhea.