Sarcoidosis

[malik]

Hello, there. I am a new member. How do you do?

I have a possible case of sarcoidosis with probable lung, CNS and/or brain, and eye involvement. My doctor wants to requisition a chest x-ray, and also ACE and calcium level blood analyses, but I am wondering about the most accurate way to go about the x-ray.

I have been troubled with certain mysterious symptoms for a matter of years and so the correct diagnosis is important to me. It's of course winter now and I am wondering if this could possibly suppress the immune system and in turn reduce the visibility or likelihood of the presence of granulomas. Additionally, my symptoms recently fluctuated and are now becoming stable, including my oral temperature. And finally, I've read that CT scans are over three times as sensitive as chest x-rays in detecting abnormalities at least in suspected cancer patients.

So, since CT's excellence is mainly said to be in detecting changes over short time intervals, would an x-ray be sufficient for initial screening, or would the possible presence of granulomas rather than scar tissue warrant the option of a CT scan instead? Any thoughts (they would be greatly appreciated)?

[malik]

Oh, sorry. By "stable", I just mean my symptoms are fluctuating less in intensity. They are still present.