[The value of lung biopsy in the radiological stage of bihilar adenopathy of sarcoidosis (author's transl)].

The classification of intrathoracic sarcoidosis into stages is based on radiological criteria. As pulmonary involvement is often considered to be an indication for corticosteroid therapy a comparison was made between the X-ray picture and lung biopsy in stage I sarcoidosis. Non-caseating epitheloid granulomas were found in 9 of 12 patients. The material was obtained by open biopsy in 8 patients and by the transbronchial approach in one case. Open and transbronchial biopsy failed in 3 patients to demonstrate sarcoid granulomas. The results suggest that the presence of mottling in the chest roentgenogram does not provide the rationale for treatment. Further studies will show whether irreversible damage to lung tissue could be prevented if lung biopsies were taken and, consequently, steroid therapy initiated, at an earlier stage of the disease.