Sarcoidosis-Like Reaction After Chemotherapy Mimicking Metastasis in a Patient With Two Synchronous Tumors: A Case Report

TL;DR

A patient with two cancers developed a sarcoidosis-like reaction after chemotherapy, which was mistaken for cancer recurrence but resolved on its own.

Contribution

This case highlights a rare chemotherapy-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction that mimics cancer recurrence.

Findings

A sarcoidosis-like reaction was diagnosed after chemotherapy in a cancer patient.

The lesions resolved spontaneously without targeted treatment.

Histopathology was crucial in distinguishing the reaction from cancer recurrence.

Abstract

Sarcoidosis presents a diagnostic challenge due to its diverse clinical manifestations and potential to mimic malignancies. We report a clinical case involving a 46-year-old woman diagnosed with localized synchronous ovarian and endometrial carcinomas treated with surgery. Following adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the patient developed suspicious pulmonary micronodules and lymphadenopathy observed in imaging studies, raising concerns about cancer recurrence. Histopathological analysis revealed chronic granulomatous inflammation without evidence of malignancy, leading to a diagnosis of a sarcoidosis-like reaction secondary to chemotherapy. Remarkably, these lesions resolved spontaneously without specific intervention. This case emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing complex oncological presentations and underscores the significance of histopathological examination in distinguishing between malignancy and chemotherapy-induced sarcoidosis-like reactions.

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