Cutaneous sarcoidosis: Prognosis and treatment

The physician who has made a diagnosis of cutaneous sarcoidosis is faced with three basic questions: (1) Are there lesions in organs other than the skin? (2) Should the patient be given treatment? (3) What will the final outcome of the disease be?Cutaneous sarcoidosis can be a great imitator of other skin diseases with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from small asymptomatic cutaneous lesions that fade spontaneously without scarring, to widespread skin lesions and disease in many organ systems. The latter may be associated with severe symptoms such as pulmonary insufficiency or life-threatening biochemical abnormalities. Approximately two thirds of all patients recover completely or with a minimum of residual changes, while 2–5% of sarcoidosis patients die from the disease.^1,2It is therefore of interest to review the literature that deals with the course and prognosis of sarcoidosis. It is also important to deal with the association of cutaneous sarcoidosis and other types of sarcoidosis in order to provide the dermatologist with a basis for his or her decision about whether treatment should, in fact, be instituted.