Miscellaneous Joint-related Disorders

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown etiology characterized by the presence of noncaseating granulomas in any organ, most commonly the lungs and intrathoracic lymph nodes. Any young (especially Black or Scandinavian) adult presenting with shortness of breath, an unexplained cough, and/or constitutional symptoms should undergo prompt laboratory and imaging evaluation for the evaluation of sarcoidosis.

Fibromyalgia is an elusive disease characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain, usually with significant fatigue and other nonspecific somatic and cognitive symptoms. Because our understanding of the disease is quite limited and effective therapeutic options are sparse, patients often have longstanding symptoms that can be debilitating and result in increased healthcare use. Recognizing the symptoms of fibromyalgia is extremely important for preventing excessive use of laboratory and imaging studies, preventing medication overuse, and, most importantly, providing appropriate multidisciplinary care to patients.