Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis simulating pulmonary malignancy: A case report

RATIONALE: Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis (NSG) has recently been termed “sarcoidosis with NSG pattern” for the disease entity representing nodular sarcoidosis with granulomatous pulmonary angiitis. It is characterized by sarcoid-like granulomas, vasculitis, and a variable degree of necrosis. Its rarity and nonspecific clinical symptoms can easily lead to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a 67-year-old female with a biopsy-confirmed sarcoidosis with NSG pattern mimicking pulmonary malignancy on initial chest computed tomography scan. DIAGNOSES: Sarcoidosis with NSG pattern. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with a lung biopsy. No further treatment was performed after the lung biopsy. OUTCOMES: Follow-up imaging studies revealed spontaneous regression of the disease after 2 months. LESSONS: Awareness of this rare benign disease entity and overlapping radiologic manifestations with pulmonary malignancy or other granulomatous diseases can be helpful for making a precise diagnosis with a better differential diagnosis.