Retroperitoneal involvement in sarcoidosis.

The presence of retroperitoneal lymphnodes is well known in sarcoidosis. We observed in two patients unilateral hydronephrosis (asymptomatic in one; dysuria in the other), and in one patient urine retention due to compression of both ureters; this patient also had jaundice due to lymphnode compression of the biliary tract. In another four patients we noted retroperitoneal lymphnodes without compression. We conclude that retroperitoneal impairment may be a previously unreported complication of Sarcoidosis.