Sarcoidosis of the Heart

Abstract

Sarcoidosis (Benier-Boeck's disease) is not limited to skin or eye as once thought. Now it is known to be a chronic granuloma of the reticulo-endothelial system, dispersing tubercle-like nodes over all organs. Assumption of benignity had to be abandoned. Supporting proof that it can be the cause of death is this report of an autopsy of a young woman following sudden death due to extensive sarcoidosis of the heart, with miliary nodes scattered in most of the organs. No signs of tuberculosis could be found.