Walsh & Hoyt: Sarcoidosis: Radiographic and Other Imaging Findings

About 90% of patients with sarcoidosis have abnormal findings on chest x-ray or other imaging studies of the chest. By international agreement, the appearance usually is classified according to the presence of enlarged hilar lymph nodes, pulmonary infiltrates, and fibrosis. The three classic radiographic patterns of pulmonary sarcoidosis are type I bilateral hilar adenopathy with no parenchymal abnormalities; type II bilateral hilar adenopathy with parenchymal changes; and type III diffuse parenchymal changes without hilar adenopathy. The type III pattern sometimes is separated into two categories, depending on the presence or absence of pulmonary fibrosis.