Subcutaneous sarcoidosis as the first manifestation of systemic disease

There are dermatological symptoms in up to 25% of patients with sarcoidosis, and the appearance of specific subcutaneous nodules as a manifestation of this entity is rare. They may even predate other manifestations of sarcoidosis. We present the case of a 38-year-old woman with asymptomatic subcutaneous nodules in the limbs, which corresponded to deep sarcoid granulomas in the histological study. She did not present with any extracutaneous indications. The imaging tests performed revealed right paratracheal adenopathies. This led to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, in both its subcutaneous and pulmonary forms (stage I). Subcutaneous sarcoidosis is probably an underdiagnosed entity, as fewer than 40 cases are reflected in literature. Its value lies in the fact that it may be the first manifestation of extracutaneous or systemic sarcoidosis, which means that this form of sarcoidosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous nodular lesions; close follow-up of these patients is also necessary.