Introduction. Pleural involvement is an uncommon manifestation of
sarcoidosis. It may manifest as pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pleural
thickening and nodules, hydropneumothorax, trapped lung, hemothorax, or
chylothorax. The incidence of pleural effusion with sarcoidosis ranges from
0% to 5% but has been reported to be as high as 7.5%. Pleural effusions
complicate sarcoidosis in < 3% of patients. Case report. We reported a
64-year-old male patient with chronic multiorgan sarcoidosis. This patient
developed pleural sarcoidosis with massive pleural effusion several years
after the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. A definitive diagnosis of a sarcoid
pleural effusion was based on a biopsy demonstrating noncaseating granuloma.
The patient responded well to the treatment (methotrexate and
methylprednisolone) with a complete withdrawal of pleural effusion following
five weeks of the treatment beginning. Conclusion. The presented patient is a
rare case of pleural involvement of sarcoidosis with massive effusion, who
responded well to the treatment.
Pleural effusion with pleural thickening in a patient exposed to zinc chromate paints: A rare case report
