Physicians can look at biopsy samples under the microscope to identify these structures which are associated with sarcoidosis. These structures can be found in many organs of the body in some patients with sarcoidosis. The lung is the organ which often contains many of these granulomas. The occurrence of sarcoidosis in this country is estimated to be about 10 to 40 cases per 100,000 people. It most often occurs in people between 20 and 40 years old, but may be diagnosed at any age.
Sarcoidosis is more prevalent among black American women, although anyone can contract the disease.
It is not yet fully understood if there is any genetic or inherited factors which might make a person more susceptible to the disease. When people first have their sarcoidosis diagnosed, some may be unaware they have any disease at all. The first clue to the physician or patient often is an abnormal chest x-ray on a routine physical examination. This often leads to a work-up by the physician, leading to the diagnosis. Somewhere between 34 and 50 percent of sarcoid patients are discovered this way.