Concomitant presentation of sarcoidosis and pulmonary tuberculosis with ARDS: A diagnostic dilemma and therapeutic challenge

Tuberculosis and sarcoidosis are chronic multisystem granulomatous conditions which have different aetiology and management but may mimic each other clinically, radiologically and pathologically. Both these diseases usually have a sub acute or chronic presentation and it is rather uncommon for them to coexist or present with acute respiratory failure. We report a case of a 57-year-old male who presented with pyrexia of unknown origin with chronic cough. He was initially diagnosed to have sarcoidosis based on clinico-radiological and histologic evidence and was started on corticosteroids. However, he presented within two weeks with acute respiratory distress and on further investigation was diagnosed with co-existing pulmonary tuberculosis.