Pneumoconiosis Flashcards
Define Pneumoconiosis?
Fibrosing interstital lung disease caused by chronic inhalation of mineral dusts
What are the diffferent types of Pneumoconiosis?
Simple
Complicated
Asbestosis
What is simple Pneumoconiosis?
Coalworker’s Pneumoconiosis or silicosis (symptom-free)
What is Complicated Pneumoconiosis?
Pneumoconiosis results in loss of lung function
What is Asbestosis?
A Pneumoconiosis in which diffuse parenchymal lung fibrosis occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to asbestos
What is the aetiology of Pneumoconiosis?
Caused by inhalation of particles of:
Coal Dust
Silica
Asbestos
What are the risk factors of Pneumoconiosis?
Occupational Exposure:
- Coal mining
- Quarrying
- Iron and steel foundries
- Stone cutting
- Sandblasting
- insulation industry
- plumbers
- ship builders
What is the risk of Pneumoconiosis dependent on?
Extent of exposure and the size/shape of particles
What are some co factors that can also contribute to Pneumoconiosis?
Smoking
TB
What is the epidemiology of Pneumoconiosis?
Incidence is increasing in developing countries
Disability and mortality from asbestosis will continue to increase for the next 20-30 yrs
What is very important to ask about in the histroy of Pneumoconiosis?
Occupational History
How is Asymptomatic Pneumoconiosis picked up?
Routine CXR
What are some of the presenting symptoms of Pneumoconiosis?
Insidious onset shortness of breath
Dry cough
Black sputum (melanoptysis)
Pleuritic Chest Pain
Where do we tend to see Black Sputum for Pneumoconiosis?
Produced occasionally in coalworker’s Pneumoconiosis
Where do we tend to see Pleuritic Chest Pain for Pneumoconiosis?
Due to acute asbestos pleurisy so seen in patients exposed to asbestos
What are the signs of Pneumoconiosis?
Examination may be normal
Signs of Coalworker’s Pneumoconiosis and silicosis?
Signs of Asbestosis
Signs of pleural effusion of right heart failure
What are the signs of Coalworker’s Pneumoconiosis and silicosis?
Decreased breath sounds
What are the signs of Asbestosis in Pneumoconiosis?
End-inspiratory crepitations
Clubbing
What are the signs of Pleural Effusion or right heart failure in Pneumoconiosis?
Cor Pulmonale
What do we see on CXR for Simple Pneumoconiosis?
Micronodular mottling
What do we see in Complicated Pneumoconiosis?
Nodular opacities in upper loves
Micronodular shadowing
Eggshell calcification of hilar lymph nodes (characteristics of silicosis)
Bilateral lower zone reticulonodular shadowing and pleural plaques (in asbestosis)
What do we see on a CT scan for Pneumoconiosis?
Fibrotic changes can be visualised early
Why do we do a Bronchoscopy for Pneumoconiosis?
Allows visualisation and bronchoalveolar lavage
What do we see on Lung Function Tests for Pneumoconiosis?
Restrictive pattern
