Walsh & Hoyt: Sarcoidosis: Lymphadenopathy

Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy is one of the hallmarks of sarcoidosis, occurring in 7090% of patients. In addition, however, about 15% of patients with sarcoidosis develop discrete, firm, painless enlargement of cervical, supraclavicular, pre- and postauricular, epitrochlear, axillary, inguinal, and femoral lymph nodes. The peripheral lymphadenopathy, like the hilar lymphadenopathy, usually is bilateral and symmetric. Biopsy of any palpable lymph node typically reveals the characteristic granulomatous changes of sarcoidosis. The peripheral lymphadenopathy of sarcoidosis often regresses spontaneously and thus does not require treatment.