Pneumoconiosis Flashcards
what is coal workers pneumoconiosis
a restrictive, occupational disease which leads to granulomatous and fibrous changes in the lung
The scarring acts like a tumour and progresses the destroying of the lung
what causes the granulomatous and fibrotic changes in the lung
dust particles typically 2-5 micrometers in diameter retained in the small airways and alveoli
what is the most common form of pneumoconiosis
simple pneumonconiosis
what does simple pneumoconiosis refer to?
deposition of coal dust in the lungs
symptoms of simple pneumoconiosis
usually COPD related but predominantly they are asymptomatic
There is not much change in respiratory function
how is simple pneumoconiosis diagnosed?
CXR abnormality only - it shows micro-nodular function
what happens in complicated pneumoconiosis?
round fibrotic masses, several cm in diameter develop in upper lobes
They have necrotic centres
what do the upper lobe fibrotic masses lead to ?
apical destruction of the lungs
what do people with complicated pneumoconiosis have an increased risk of?
infection
what is the pattern with breathlessness in C pneumoconiosis?
restrictive pattern
what are the causes of pneumoconiosis?
inhalation and retention of coal dust
what are the signs
- finger clubbing
- no cough or dyspnoea
what investigations should be done with pneumoconiosis?
- CXR - upper lobe reticular shadowing/fibrosis
- lung function test- not impaired function
what is the treatment?
palliative
what is caplan’s syndrome?
also known as rheumatoid pneumoconiosis, is the combination of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis and a characteristic pattern of fibrosis. Although first described in coal miners (coal workers’ pneumoconiosis), it has subsequently been found in patients with a variety of pneumoconiosis.
