Interstitial lung disease

Question 1

Define pneumoconiosis

Answer 1

Lung disease resulting from inhalation of dusts e.g. coal workers pneumoconiosis, silicosis, asbestosis. There is a long latency period between exposure and development of disease.

Question 2

Mining occupation, upper zone fibrosis, egg-shell calcification of hilar nodes

Answer 2

Silicosis

Question 3

Causes of upper zone fibrosis

Answer 3

C - Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis
H - Histiocytosis/ hypersensitivity pneumonitis
A - Ankylosing spondylitis
R - Radiation
T - Tuberculosis
S - Silicosis/sarcoidosis

Question 4

Causes of lower zone fibrosis

Answer 4

• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• SLE
• Drugs: amiodarone, bleomycin, methotrexate
• Asbetosis

Question 5

Are pleural plaques benign or malignant?

Answer 5

Benign