Sarcoidosis mimicking glioma: case report and review of intracranial sarcoid mass lesions.

Sarcoidosis may rarely cause a discrete intracranial mass lesion. We report a case originally diagnosed as a malignant glioma because of the uneven enhancement and marked white matter edema seen on computerized tomography. Twenty-two reported cases are analyzed, together wih our own. Major signs and symptoms are similar to those of other intracranial masses. Coexistent meningeal or hypothalamic involvement is often present, but extracranial sarcoidosis may be absent. The radiologic appearance varies and does not permit distinction from neoplasms or other granulomatous diseases. Treatment with steroids alone seems to be the best choice for initial therapy.