Occupational and Environmental Lung Diseases Flashcards
Small rounded opacities in CXR
Silicosis
Coal worker’s
Small linear opacities in CXR
Asbestosis
Water soluble gases predilection
Ammonia and sulfur dioxide: lining of upper and proximal airways
Less soluble gases predilection
Nitrogen dioxide and Phosgene: bronchioles and alveoli: life-threatening
Particles ~2.5 to 10um
Coarse-mode fraction: tracheobronchial tree
Particles <2.5 um
fine-mode fraction: lower airways
Particles <0.1 um
Remain in the airstream
Inorganic Dusts
Asbestos Berrylium Silica Coal dust Other metals
Organic dusts
Toxic chemicals Grain dust Cotton dust Other agricultural dusts Other respi environmental agents
Diffuse interstitial fibrosing of the lung directly related to intensitu and duration of exposure of pipe-fitters, boilermakers, exposure to friction materials
Asbestosis
Mechanism of asbetosis
Oxidative injury
PFT in asbestosis
Restrictive
MC cancer associated with asbestosis
Lung Ca associated with smoking
Mesothelioma (not associated with smoking)
At risk of exposure are those in mining, stone cutting, employment in abrasive industries, foundry work, packing of silica flour and quarrying
Silicosis
“Crazy paving” in HRCT
Acute silicosis: ~10 months of heavy exposure
Treatment of acute silicosis
Whole-lung lavage
“Egg shell pattern” in CXR
Simple silicosis: 15-20 years exposure
PFT in complicated silicosis
Restrictive and Obstructive
Caplan’s syndrome
Coal miners with silicosis + seropositive RA + pneumoconiotic nodules
More common berrylium exposure
Chronic granulomatous inflammatory disease
PFT of beryllium disease
Restrictive and/or obstructive
Risk associated with cotton dust
Byssinosis
Monday chest tightness
Byssinosis
