Objective To understand the misdiagnosis between pneumoconiosis and sarcoidosis by retrospectively analyzing the chest radiographs and explore the differential diagnostic issue of these two diseases.
Methods Imaging findings of 21 misdiagnosed cases were analyzed, in combination of clinical and laboratory data, to conclude the causes of misdiagnosis and differentiation of pneumoconiosis and sarcoidosis.
Results According the medical records of the 21 cases that had a history of dust exposure, 6 cases of pneumoconiosis were misdiagnosed as sarcoidosis, and 15 cases of sarcoidosis were misdiagnosed as pneumoconiosis; 5 cases presented lung lesion without chest lymph node enlargement, and the other 16 cases presented chest lymph nodes enlargement. Multiple small nodules or micronodules were found in 15 cases, extensive fibrosis pulmonary was found 1 case, and 8 cases were confirmed as sarcoidosis after bronchoscopy and scalene fat pad biopsy.
Conclusion There are certain difficulties in the differential diagnosis of pneumoconiosis and sarcoidosis, and thus relevant occupational history, clinical and laboratory data should be considered in analyzing imaging findings to provide diagnostic evidence.
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