Obligatory medical device diagnostics.
- X-ray of the thorax (radiographic thorax/chest), in two planes.
- Computed tomography of the thorax/chest (thoracic CT).
Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the medical history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics and mandatory medical device diagnostics – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Pulmonary function testing-serial spirometry, particularly forced vital capacity (FVC; lung volume exhaled at maximal rate (forced) after maximal inspiration), is the most reliable diagnostic tool for monitoring disease progression in advanced pulmonary sarcoidosis (FPS)
- Gallium scintigraphy – to assess the activity of sarcoidosis.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG; recording of the electrical activity of the heart muscle) – for suspected involvement of the heart.
- Echocardiography (echo; heart ultrasound) – if involvement of the heart is suspected.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the skull (cranial MRI, cranial MRI resp. cMRI) – if isolated CNS involvement (involvement of the central nervous system) or involvement of the same is suspected [neurosarcoidosis: thickened and strongly contrast-absorbing meninges; differential diagnoses: Tuberculosis, Wegener’s granulomatosis, toxoplasmosis, Whipple’s disease, neurosyphilis, neuroborreliosis, meningiosis carcinomatosa, multilocular gliomas, and multiple sclerosis (MS); confirm diagnosis by CSF diagnostics]In case of isolated CNS involvement (evidence: clinical and by imaging) – if possible – biopsies (menigeal and/or cerebral, depending on findings). Note: In confirmed neurosarcoidosis, only 33% showed abnormal chest X-ray findings.
