What does sarcoidosis mean?
Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the immune system forms small clusters of cells called granulomas. These clusters most commonly develop in the lungs and lymph nodes, but they may also affect the eyes, skin, heart, nervous system, and other organs. Because symptoms vary with the organs involved, the condition may be discovered through routine imaging, breathing problems, skin lesions, eye inflammation, or other signs that require medical evaluation. The word also appears in the older names Besnier–Boeck disease and Boeck's disease. Sarcoidosis is not itself a form of cancer, although it can cause significant tissue changes and sometimes serious complications. Its cause is not fully understood, although abnormal immune regulation is thought to be important. Accurate diagnosis and treatment require specialist medical care.
nounSarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which small clusters of immune cells, called granulomas, form in organs and tissues throughout the body. It most often affects the lungs and lymph nodes but can involve the heart, eyes, skin, nerves, and other organs.
- A chronic, often multisystem, inflammatory disease characterized by noninfectious granulomas, especially in the lungs and lymph nodes.
"Her sarcoidosis was diagnosed after a routine chest X-ray revealed enlarged lymph nodes."
"Sarcoidosis may cause persistent cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue."
"The doctor explained that her sarcoidosis might require specialist monitoring for changes in her vision and heart function."
Rare and uncommon in modern medical writing; singular sarcoidosis is the standard form.
"The report described sarcoidoses affecting several different organs."
Sarcoidosis is a disease of microscopic inflammation: clusters of immune cells can affect organs across the body, making its symptoms as varied as the places it appears.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sarcoidosis come from?
The word combines sarcoid, from Greek sarx, meaning flesh, with the suffix -osis, a term used in medicine and biology to indicate a diseased or abnormal condition. The medical terminology developed during the early 20th century as physicians described characteristic granulomatous lesions and the systemic disease associated with them. The related English terms sarcoid and sarcoidal use the same Greek element, while sarcoma derives from the related but distinct Greek root meaning a fleshy tumor.
How sarcoidosis is actually used
The term is primarily medical and is usually used in a diagnostic or clinical context. It should not be used as a synonym for a single benign lump or lesion unless that usage is specifically referring to a sarcoid granuloma. Diagnosis can be difficult because other conditions can produce similar granulomas.
Easily confused with sarcoidosis
Sarcoid describes the granulomatous lesions associated with sarcoidosis and can also be used as an adjective, whereas sarcoidosis is the name of the disease itself.