Use of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in hepatosplenic sarcoidosis : report of 2 cases

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology that predominantly affects lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes; in rare cases (approx. 10%), infiltration of the spleen and liver may be observed. In order to identify hepatosplenic infiltration, MRI/CT of the abdomen and different ultrasound techniques (PD US, US D) are usually performed. Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is a new technique in this diagnostic algorithm, but the fact that this is a safe, accurate, and widely available method opens a new perspective for the detection of abdominal lesions in sarcoidosis. Case Reports: We report 2 cases of hepatosplenic sarcoidosis - a 41-year-old woman with splenic lesions and a 46-year-old man with liver infiltration. Results: On the basis of these 2 cases we intended to show the diagnostic potential of contrast enhanced ultrasound for the recognition of focal lesions of the spleen and liver in patients suffering from sarcoidosis.