Introduction. Sarcoidosis is a chronic, multi-organ, inflammatory disease
which predominantly affects the lungs. Although direct osseous involvement in
sarcoidosis is rare, patients with this disease, regardless of the presence
of osseous lesions, are at a great risk of developing osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a consequence of the disease itself, as well as of its
treatment. Osteodensitometry. Osteodensitometry is the gold standard for
osteoporosis diagnosis, and it is based on the assessment of the bone mineral
density. One of the main drawbacks of osteodensitometry as a method for
osteoporosis verification is its inability to determine bone
micro-architectonics, which is a significant element of bone strength.
Mineral Bone Density in Patients with Sarcoidosis. It has been shown that
newly diagnosed, yet untreated patients with sarcoidosis have rapid bone
remodeling, although their mineral bone density is normal or low to normal.
This suggests that the low bone strength in patients with sarcoidosis is a
consequence of mechanisms that predominantly disturb the bone
micro-architectonics, but they do not have a significant effect on the bone
mineral density at the same time. Vertebral Fractures and their Diagnosis in
Patients with Sarcoidosis. Normal bone mineral density in patients with
sarcoidosis does not preclude skeletal fractures, primarily vertebral
fractures. Osteodensitometry devices allow a relatively easy detection of
vertebral fractures in patients with sarcoidosis. Conclusion.
Osteodensitometry is recommended in every patient with sarcoidosis initially
as well as during the follow up and treatment. Even if osteodensitometry is
normal, the possibility of vertebral fractures should not be overlooked in
these patients.
Dorsal vertebral fractures with 'normal' bone mineral density.
