Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a condition that causes your immune system to overreact and make lumps or nodules called granulomas. Depending on location and size, granulomas can cause mild to severe symptoms or no symptoms at all. In some cases, they can turn into fibrosis, causing permanent lung scarring.

Granulomas can be found almost anywhere in your body, but they’re most commonly found in your lungs or lymph nodes. You may also have noticeable symptoms of granulomas in your skin, eyes or muscles.

What is a granuloma?

A granuloma is an area of inflammation caused by your immune system. It’s made up of a cluster of white blood cells that have been “walled off” from the rest of your body to try to protect you from something your immune system thought was harmful. Granulomas are surrounded by fibrous (dense) tissue, which makes them feel hard and lumpy.

Who does sarcoidosis affect?

While sarcoidosis can affect anyone, it’s more common in Black people than in white people. It also affects those assigned female at birth (AFAB) slightly more than those assigned male at birth (AMAB). Most cases are diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 40.

While you can’t inherit sarcoidosis, you’re at a higher risk of developing it if you have a first-degree biological relative (parent, child or sibling) who has it.

How common is sarcoidosis?

Sarcoidosis is considered a rare disease. There are usually fewer than 200,000 cases of sarcoidosis at any given time in the U.S.