Bronchostenosis due to sarcoidosis: a cause of atelectasis and airway obstruction simulating pulmonary neoplasm and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Ninety-nine patients with clinically and histopathologically established sarcoidosis were studied during the period of January 1971 to October 1977 using the bronchoscope. In 32 patients, biopsy of the bronchial mucosa showed a microscopic picture typical of sarcoidosis. In eight (8 percent) of the 99 patients, severe stenosis of the bronchi was seen. We conclude that bronchial sarcoidosis with multiple segmental or lobar stenosis can closely imitate the clinical picture of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Bronchostenosis in sarcoidosis can cause atelectasis visible on the chest x-ray film and thus closely simulate a pulmonary neoplasm.