Heart & vascular pathology

Systemic conditions

Sarcoidosis



Last author update: 8 December 2022
Last staff update: 20 July 2023

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PubMed Search: Cardiac sarcoidosis

Matthew G.K. Charles, B.A.
Carolyn Glass, M.D., Ph.D.
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Cite this page: Charles MGK, Glass C. Sarcoidosis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/heartsarcoidosis.html. Accessed March 28th, 2024.
Definition / general
  • Cardiac sarcoidosis is a type of infiltrative cardiomyopathy and a potential cause of heart failure
Essential features
  • Nonnecrotizing granulomata are classic
  • Presents with symptoms of cardiac dysfunction (arrhythmias, conduction disturbances)
  • Often clinically silent and subsequently diagnosed on explant hearts or autopsy
ICD coding
  • ICD-10:
    • D86.89 - sarcoidosis of other sites
    • D86.9 - sarcoidosis, unspecified
Epidemiology
  • Occurs in approximately 5% of patients with systemic or pulmonary manifestations of sarcoidosis (Clin Chest Med 2015;36:657)
  • U.S. autopsy studies revealed cardiac manifestations in 20 - 29% of patients with systemic sarcoidosis
  • Average age at presentation: 50 years old (Circulation 2015;131:624)
Sites
Pathophysiology
  • Not fully understood; some consider as spectrum of autoimmune etiology
  • Nonnecrotizing granulomata are classic
  • Often presents initially with local inflammation, which then progresses to fibrotic scarring; however, disease progression is highly variable (Intern Med 2014;53:1595)
Etiology
Clinical features
  • Atrioventricular (AV) block
  • Supraventricular and ventricular arrythmias
  • Heart failure
  • Sudden cardiac death
  • Hypercalcemia
  • Acute coronary syndrome, rarely (Clin Cardiol 2009;32:E68)
Diagnosis
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG): PR lengthening, T wave abnormalities, Q waves
  • Echocardiograms: decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, ventricular aneurysm, regional wall motion abnormality, basal septal thinning (Heart Rhythm 2014;11:1305)
  • Cardiac imaging (see Radiology description)
Laboratory
Radiology description
  • Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR): multifocal areas of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), midmyocardial and subepicardial LGE, extension of LGE from the left ventricle to the right ventricle (JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2013;6:501, Curr Opin Pulm Med 2009;15:507)
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET may reveal FDG uptake, which is a nonspecific finding that indicates inflammation
Radiology images

Images hosted on other servers:

Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)

Prognostic factors
Case reports
Treatment
  • Management largely involves treatment of underlying cardiac dysfunction and prevention of cardiovascular disease
    • Patients may be candidates for cardiac transplant, pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator
    • Heart failure medications and antiarrhythmics are often indicated
  • Patients with evidence of current myocardial inflammation and cardiac dysfunction may be eligible for immunosuppressive medications (Chest 2012;141:154)
Gross description
  • Diffuse myocardial infiltrates with irregular borders, which can vary from yellow to white / gray (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2010;134:1039)
  • There may be ventricular dilation and aneurysms present (Virchows Arch 2011;458:671)
  • If present, fibrosis may be focal or diffuse and is usually most prominent in the basal septum and left ventricular free wall
  • Pericardial thickening
Gross images

Images hosted on other servers:

Myocardial infiltrates

Microscopic (histologic) description
  • Nonnecrotizing granulomas and multinucleated giant cells in transmural or focal distribution (Clin Cardiol 2018;41:1386)
    • Giant cell inclusions may be present
      • Schaumann bodies: oval, concentrically laminated intracytoplasmic inclusions
      • Asteroid bodies: stellate shaped with cytoplasmic clearing
  • Transmural or focal interstitial fibrosis (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2010;134:1039)
  • Small coronary arteries may be involved
Microscopic (histologic) images

Contributed by Carolyn Glass, M.D., Ph.D.

Cardiac biopsy

Sample pathology report
  • Heart, left ventricle, endomyocardial biopsy:
    • Cardiac sarcoidosis (see comment)
    • Comment: Biopsy contains several well formed granulomas with multinucleated giant cells containing intracytoplasmic inclusions. Moderate fibrosis is present. Microscopic appearance consistent with clinical diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis.
Differential diagnosis
  • Foreign body granulomas:
    • Granulomas are not well formed
    • Polarized light reveals foreign material
  • Giant cell myocarditis:
    • Not associated with systemic disease
    • Granulomas are not well formed
    • Eosinophils
    • Fibrosis not seen acutely
  • Fungal / mycobacterial infections:
    • Granulomas are necrotizing
    • Positive GMS
    • Positive AFB
    • Other organs involved
  • Lyme carditis:
    • Transmural lymphocytic inflammation
    • No granulomas
    • Other symptoms of systemic lyme disease present
Board review style question #1

A 40 year old woman presented with dyspnea on exertion and several pulmonary nodules seen on a prior abdominal CT scan. Additional CT scan of the chest showed cardiomegaly and subsequent endomyocardial biopsy revealed the histology seen above. What is the diagnosis?

  1. Amyloidosis
  2. Giant cell myocarditis
  3. Hemochromatosis
  4. Sarcoidosis
Board review style answer #1
D. Sarcoidosis. This patient has nonnecrotizing granulomas on cardiac biopsy. In the setting of pulmonary nodules on prior imaging, this most likely represents sarcoidosis with cardiac involvement. Her shortness of breath may represent development of heart failure.

Comment Here

Reference: Sarcoidosis
Board review style question #2
A 28 year old woman with no significant medical history presents with dizziness. On further questioning, the patient describes a sensation of blacking out. Electrocardiogram (ECG) is performed and reveals sinus rhythm with PR prolongation. Chest Xray reveals bilateral lung opacities. What is the diagnosis?

  1. Coronary artery disease
  2. Hyperthyroidism
  3. Sarcoidosis
  4. Viral myocarditis
Board review style answer #2
C. Sarcoidosis. This patient likely has presyncope due to conduction abnormalities, as evidenced by atrioventricular (AV) block on ECG. In the setting of lung opacities on chest Xray and with no other explanation for AV block in this young patient who is otherwise healthy, this is most likely due to sarcoidosis with cardiac involvement.

Comment Here

Reference: Sarcoidosis
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