Occupational Lung Disease Flashcards
Give four occupational agents that can cause acute bronchitis:
1) sulphur dioxide
2) chlorine
3) ammonia
4) oxides nitrogen
What occupational agent causes pulmonary fibrosis:
Mineral Dust
Give three occupational agents that can cause bronchial carcinoma:
1) asbestos
2) polycyclic hydrocarbons
3) radon (found in mines)
What is the most common industrial lung disease in the developed world?
occupational asthma
What is the name given to iron deposits?
siderosis
What is the name given to barium deposits?
baritosis
What is the name given to tin deposits?
stannosis
What CXR finding would support diagnosis iron/ barium/ tin deposits in the lung?
dramatic, dense, nodular shadowing
True or false: iron/ barium/ tin deposits have a minimal effect on lung function
True
Does asbestos and silica cause low, intermediate or high levels of lung fibrosis?
high
Does coal dust cause low, intermediate or high levels of lung fibrosis
intermediate
In which anatomical regions does coal dust get stuck?
1) small airways
2) alveoli
What is the size of coal dust particles?
2-5um
What are the two types of coal-worker’s pneumoconiosis?
1) simple pneumoconiosis
2) progressive massive fibrosis
What is simple pneumoconiosis?
deposition of coal dust in the lungs causing minimal functional change
What CXR finding would be associated with category 1 simple pneumoconiosis?
What CXR finding would be associated with category 1 simple pneumoconiosis?
What CXR finding would be associated with category 2 simple pneumoconiosis?
numerous small round opacities but normal lung markings visible
What CXR finding would be associated with category 3 simple pneumoconiosis?
very numerous small round opacities and normal lung markings are obscured
True or false: it is not possible for simple pneumoconiosis to progress to progressive massive fibrosis
false (although it is rare in category 1)
What is progressive massive fibrosis?
a form of coal-worker’s pneumoconiosis characterised by the patient developing round, fibrotic masses, several centimetres in diameter found in the upper lobe
What two serum markers indicate progressive massive fibrosis?
1) rheumatoid factor
2) antinuclear antibodies
Give 5 ways in which progressive massive fibrosis manifests:
1) apical destruction
2) emphysema and airway damage
3) reduces gas transfer
4) irreversible airflow limitation
5) loss of lung volume
True or false: progressive massive fibrosis shows a mixed restrictive and obstructive ventilatory defect in lung function tests
True
Give 3 clinical presentations associated with progressive massive fibrosis:
1) cough
2) considerable effort dyspnoea
3) black sputum
Give 3 occupations that increase risk of silicosis?
1) stone masons
2) sand-blasters
3) pottery and ceramic workers
Explain how silicon dust is so fibrogenic:
it is toxic to alveolar macrophages, causing them to recruit fibroblasts
What is the classic CXR sign associated with silicosis?
eggshell calcification (distinctive thin streaks of calcification found around the hilar lymph nodes)
What is the name given to lung disease caused by cotton dust?
Byssinosis
What is Monday sickness?
the initial presentation of byssinosis which begins on the first day back at work after a break e.g. a weekend
Give 3 symptoms of byssinosis:
1) tightness of the chest
2) cough
3) breathlessness
Describe how cotton inhalation causes byssinosis:
raw cotton contains bacteria which produces endotoxins which cause constriction of airways
True or false: dramatic CXR findings are seen in byssinosis
false (there are no CXR changes)
What is the name given to lung disease caused by beryllium inhalation?
berylliosis
Name 3 areas where there is an increased risk of beryllium inhalation:
1) aerospace industry
2) atomic reactors
3) electrical devices
What are 3 presentations associated with berylliosis:
1) progressive dyspnoea
2) systemic illness
3) pulmonary fibrosis
(similar picture to sarcoidosis)
