What is the Difference Between Sarcoidosis and Tuberculosis?

Sarcoidosis and tuberculosis are both granulomatous diseases, but they have some differences in their characteristics and manifestations. Here are the main differences between the two:

1. Granuloma type: Tuberculosis is characterized by caseating granulomas, while sarcoidosis is characterized by noncaseating granulomas.
2. Causative agent: Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, while the exact cause of sarcoidosis is still unknown.
3. Symptoms and manifestations: Although both diseases can affect multiple organs, the most common sites of inflammation for sarcoidosis are the lungs, eyes, skin, lymph nodes, salivary glands, heart, spleen, liver, and the nervous system. Tuberculosis, on the other hand, primarily affects the lungs and can also spread to other organs.
4. Diagnostic criteria: Distinguishing between sarcoidosis and tuberculosis can be challenging, especially in areas with high prevalence of tuberculosis. In many cases, differentiating the two diseases requires a combination of clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings.
5. Treatment: Exclusion of tuberculosis is important, particularly because corticosteroids form the mainstay of treatment for sarcoidosis. Tuberculosis, on the other hand, is typically treated with a combination of antibiotics.

It is also worth noting that there have been reports of coexistence of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis in the same patients. In such cases, the diagnostic dilemma is further complicated.

Comparative Table: Sarcoidosis vs Tuberculosis

Here is a table comparing the differences between sarcoidosis and tuberculosis:

Please note that the table is based on the information available in the provided search results, which may not cover all the differences between sarcoidosis and tuberculosis.