This glossary of sarcoidosis terms has been compiled to aid those who have been diagnosed with sarcoid to understand the often medically-oriented terminology that is used in discussions of the disease. If you don't find the word you are seeking in this list, try this glossary of terms relating to sarcoidosis that was written by a well-known sarcoidosis specialist, Dr. Om Sharma. The definitions provided there are written for the average layperson to understand.

ALLERGEN

A substance (antigen) capable of producing immediate-type hypersensitivity (allergy).

ALVEOLITIS

Inflammation of the alveoli.

ALVEOLUS

Tiny sac-like space; pulmonary alveoli are tiny sac-like spaces in the lung where gas exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

ANERGY

1) Lack of energy. 2) diminished reactivity to all antigens.

ANTIBODY

A substance which reacts only to the antigen that is responsible for its production in the cells or to a closely related antigen.

ANTIGEN

Any substance which is capable, under certain conditions, of inducing a specific immune response and of reacting with the products of that response, specific antibodies and/or t-lymphocytes.

ARTHRALGIA

Pain in a joint; polyarthralgias are joint pains affecting two or more joints.

ASYMPTOMATIC

Showing or causing no symptoms.

AUTOIMMUNE

Pertaining to a condition characterized by a specific immune response against constituents of the body's own tissues.

BILATERAL HILAR (LYMPH)ADENOPATHY

Refers to the enlargement of the depression of a lymph gland where the vessels and nerves enter, occurring on both sides.

BIOPSY

The removal and examination of tissue from a living body.

BRONCHOSCOPE

An instrument used to inspect the interior of the tracheobronchial tree (the trachea and the bronchi in the lungs); bronchoscopy refers to the actual examination procedure.

CHRONIC

Persisting over a long period of time.

CORNEA

The transparent structure forming the front part of the fibrous covering of the eye.

CORTICOSTEROIDS

21-carbon steroids compiled by the adrenal cortex, but excluding the sex hormones of adrenal origin that we associate with steroid use by athletes; clinically corticosteroids are used for hormonal replacement therapy, for suppression of ACTH secretion by the anterior pituitary, as antineoplastic, antiallergic, and anti-inflammatory agents, and to suppress immune responses. Sometimes called "corticoid."

DYSPNEA

Shortness of breath; exertional dyspnea is a shortness of breath caused by physical exercise or effort.

ENZYME

A protein molecule that increases the speed (catalyzes) of chemical reactions of other substances without itself being destroyed or altered in the process.

ERYTHEMA NODOSUM

A type of panniculitis occurring usually as a hypersensitivity reaction to multiple provoking agents including various infections, drugs, sarcoidosis, and certain intestinal diseases. I most often affects young women in late winter or early spring and is characterized by the development of nodules, often on the shins, as well as mild constitutional symptoms including low-grade fever, fatigue, and multiple joint aches.

ETIOLOGY

Cause or origin of a disease or disorder.

EXACERBATION

Increase in the severity of a disease of any of its symptoms.

FIBROSIS

The formation of fibrous tissue (scarring); (idiopathic) pulmonary fibrosis is the chronic inflammation and progressive fibrosis of the pulmonary alveolar walls.

FIBROTIC

Pertaining to or characterized by fibrosis.

FIBROUS

Composed of or containing fibers.

GALLIUM SCAN

Gallium-67 scanning is a procedure used as a means to diagnose sarcoidosis, but is not considered specific enough to confirm diagnosis.

GENETIC

Determined by the genes that are formed at conception and combine to make us into the person that we are at birth.

GLUCOCORTICOIDS

One of two major groups of corticosteroids.

GRANULOMA

Any small nodular group of inflammatory cells, the formation of which represents a chronic inflammatory reaction to various infectious and noninfectious agents; a noncaseating granuloma is a granuloma that does not have a cheesy consistency like the granulomas in tuberculosis.

GRANULOMATOUS

Of or containing granulomas.

HYPERCALCEMIA

An excess of calcium in the blood.

HYPERCALCIURIA

An excess of calcium in the urine.

HYPERGAMMAGLOBINEMIA

An excess of gamma globulins in the blood, it is seen frequently in chronic infectious diseases.

INFECTIOUS

Caused by or capable of being communicated by infection.

INFLAMMATION

A localized protective response elicited by injury or destruction of tissues, which serves to destroy, dilute, or wall off both the injurious agent and the injured tissue; my include signs of pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function.

INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE

Heterogeneous group of noninfectious, nonmalignant disorders of the lower respiratory tract affecting the alveolar wall structures as well as the small airways and blood vessels of the lung parenchyma.

INTRATHORACIC

Pertaining to or affecting the area within the chest (thorax).

KVEIM-SILTZBACH TEST

A skin test using antigen from human sarcoid tissue injected intradermally (any developing nodules are biopsied); the test is not widely available nor well standardized and has not been approved for general use by the FDA in the USA.

LAVAGE

Irrigation or washing out of an organ; bronchoalveolar lavage is a technique by which cells and fluid from the bronchioles and lung alveoli are removed for diagnosis of disease or evaluation of treatment.

LYMPH NODES

Any of the accumulations of lymph tissue organized as lymphoid organs situated along the course of lymphatic vessels and consisting of an outer cortical and an inner medullary part.

NEUROSARCOIDOSIS

A complication of sarcoidosis involving inflammation and abnormal deposits in the tissues of the nervous system, which includes the pituitary gland, the peripheral nerves, and/or the brain or cranial nerves.

PANNICULITIS

An inflammatory reaction of the subcutaneous fat characterized by the development of single or multiple cutaneous nodules.

PARENCHYMA

The essential elements of an organ; parenchymal pertains to the parenchyma.

PATHOGENESIS

The cellular events, and reactions and other pathologic mechanisms occurring in the development of a disease.

PFT or PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS

A series of breathing tests administered to determine any decrease in lung function and capacity.

PULMONARY

Pertaining to the lungs.

RADIOGRAPHY

An x-ray record of certain internal structures of the body.

RESPIRATORY

Pertaining to respiration; the respiratory system consists of all parts of the body that are involved in respiration including the nose, trachea, and lungs.

RETINA

The innermost covering of the eyeball.

SACE or SERUM ANGIOTENSIN CONVERTING ENZYME

A substance whose activity is measured as a means of diagnosing sarcoidosis, it is not considered specific enough to confirm diagnosis.

SARCOIDOSIS

A chronic, systemic, granulomatous disease of unknown origin which may involve almost any body organ or tissue and is characterized by the presence of noncaseating nodules in the covering of the internal/external surfaces of the body.

SCLERA

The tough, white outer coat of the eyeball.

SLIT-LAMP EXAMINATION

Type of eye examination used to diagnose uveitis.

SYNDROME

A set of symptoms which occur together.

SYSTEMIC or MULTI-SYSTEM

Pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole.

UVEITIS

An inflammation of part or all of the uvea, which is the middle covering of the eye, and commonly involving the other coverings (the sclera and cornea, and the retina)