Bone cysts in sarcoidosis: what is their clinical significance?

The incidence of bone cysts in sarcoidosis, a multisystemic disease, varies in different series, and these cysts are generally asymptomatic. We evaluated bone cysts in 516 sarcoidosis patients with available hand X-rays and in 200 patients with foot X-rays. Bone cysts were present in 21 cases (19 females, two males). The cysts were localized in phalanges of the hand in all cases, in feet in five cases, and in nasal bone in one. Six patients with bone cysts also had lupus pernio. Among those with cystic bone lesions, females were more frequent; extrapulmonary and skin involvement and lupus pernio were significantly more common. We diagnosed cystic bone lesions in 3.6% of our sarcoidosis patients and conclude that cysts were more frequent in females and in patients with lupus pernio.