The ex vivo effect of the herbal medicine sho-saiko-to on histamine release from rat mast cells

OBJECTIVE: This report describes subcutaneous sarcoidosis, focusing on the radiological and magnetic resonance (MR) features of the disease. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: The cases of four patients (one male and three female, age range 36-75 years) who had subcutaneous sarcoidosis with no other organs affected were reviewed. Lesions were nodular in two cases, and in the other two were diffuse. RESULTS: Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a well-defined, homogeneous, and enhanced lesion in the nodular cases. However, in the diffuse cases, CT showed a heterogeneous, honeycomb-like appearance and little enhancement. Angiography showed a fine stain in the arterial phase. MR imaging of the nodular lesions was homogeneous with a signal intensity similar to muscle on T1-weighted images but heterogeneous with a higher signal than muscle on T2-weighted images. Diffuse lesions showed a striped or mesh pattern with intermediate signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images. Contrast-enhanced MR images showed slight enhancement. CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous sarcoidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a patient presents with the radiological and MR features described.