Sarcoidosis Presenting as a Giant Pulmonary Bulla With Concurrent COVID-19 Infection

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that predominantly affects the lungs. However, its presentation as a giant pulmonary bulla is exceptionally rare. Its association with COVID-19 has raised new concerns regarding disease exacerbation and misdiagnosis. We report a case of a 38-year-old m...

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Main Authors: Sathish Krishnan MD, FCCP, Anam Naumaan MD, Venu Pararath Gopalakrishnan MD, FACP
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/23247096251340738
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author Sathish Krishnan MD, FCCP
Anam Naumaan MD
Venu Pararath Gopalakrishnan MD, FACP
author_facet Sathish Krishnan MD, FCCP
Anam Naumaan MD
Venu Pararath Gopalakrishnan MD, FACP
author_sort Sathish Krishnan MD, FCCP
collection DOAJ
description Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that predominantly affects the lungs. However, its presentation as a giant pulmonary bulla is exceptionally rare. Its association with COVID-19 has raised new concerns regarding disease exacerbation and misdiagnosis. We report a case of a 38-year-old man who developed a large left lower lobe bulla in the context of recent COVID-19 infection. Initial misinterpretation of the bulla as loculated pneumothorax nearly led to an unnecessary chest tube placement. A subsequent thoracotomy with lobectomy revealed nonnecrotizing granulomas, confirming sarcoidosis. The patient showed spontaneous remission without requiring treatment. This case highlights the importance of multidisciplinary discussions in atypical lung presentations to prevent mismanagement.
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language English
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publisher SAGE Publishing
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series Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports
spelling doaj-art-eb26b67ea0914f30934e82910ec0d37f2025-08-20T02:28:19ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports2324-70962025-05-011310.1177/23247096251340738Sarcoidosis Presenting as a Giant Pulmonary Bulla With Concurrent COVID-19 InfectionSathish Krishnan MD, FCCP0Anam Naumaan MD1Venu Pararath Gopalakrishnan MD, FACP2Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Community Health Network, Indianapolis, IN, USADivision of Pathology, Community Health Network, Indianapolis, IN, USADivision of Hospital Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, USASarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that predominantly affects the lungs. However, its presentation as a giant pulmonary bulla is exceptionally rare. Its association with COVID-19 has raised new concerns regarding disease exacerbation and misdiagnosis. We report a case of a 38-year-old man who developed a large left lower lobe bulla in the context of recent COVID-19 infection. Initial misinterpretation of the bulla as loculated pneumothorax nearly led to an unnecessary chest tube placement. A subsequent thoracotomy with lobectomy revealed nonnecrotizing granulomas, confirming sarcoidosis. The patient showed spontaneous remission without requiring treatment. This case highlights the importance of multidisciplinary discussions in atypical lung presentations to prevent mismanagement.https://doi.org/10.1177/23247096251340738
spellingShingle Sathish Krishnan MD, FCCP
Anam Naumaan MD
Venu Pararath Gopalakrishnan MD, FACP
Sarcoidosis Presenting as a Giant Pulmonary Bulla With Concurrent COVID-19 Infection
Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports
title Sarcoidosis Presenting as a Giant Pulmonary Bulla With Concurrent COVID-19 Infection
title_full Sarcoidosis Presenting as a Giant Pulmonary Bulla With Concurrent COVID-19 Infection
title_fullStr Sarcoidosis Presenting as a Giant Pulmonary Bulla With Concurrent COVID-19 Infection
title_full_unstemmed Sarcoidosis Presenting as a Giant Pulmonary Bulla With Concurrent COVID-19 Infection
title_short Sarcoidosis Presenting as a Giant Pulmonary Bulla With Concurrent COVID-19 Infection
title_sort sarcoidosis presenting as a giant pulmonary bulla with concurrent covid 19 infection
url https://doi.org/10.1177/23247096251340738
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AT venupararathgopalakrishnanmdfacp sarcoidosispresentingasagiantpulmonarybullawithconcurrentcovid19infection