Pneumoconiosis

Question 1

Pneumoconiosis?

Answer 1

Fibrosing interstitial lung disease caused by chronic inhalation of mineral dusts, coal dust, siica, asbestos

Question 2

Pneumoconiosis types?

Answer 2

Simple: Coalworker’s pneumoconiosis or silicosis (symptom-free)

Complicated: pneumoconiosis results in loss of lung function

Asbestosis: a pneumoconiosis in which diffuse parenchymal lung fibrosis occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to asbestos

Question 3

Pneumoconiosis risk factors?

Answer 3

occupational exposure (coal mining, quarrying, iron and steel foundries, stone cutting, sandblasting, insulation industry, plumbers, ship builders)

Risk is dependent on extent of exposure and the size/shape of particles

Question 4

Pneumoconiosis causes?

Answer 4

Coal dust Silica Asbestos

Question 5

Pneumoconiosis symptoms?

Answer 5

Asymptomatic - picked up on routine CXR

Symptomatic; insidious onset shortness of breath, dry cough, black sputum- produced occasionally in coalworker’s pneumoconiosis,

pleuritic chest pain (due to acute asbestos pleurisy) - in patients exposed to asbestos.

Question 6

Pneumoconiosis signs?

Answer 6

Coalworker’s pneumoconiosis and silicosis: decreased breath sounds.

Asbestosis: end-inspiratory crepitations, clubbing, signs of pleural effusion or right heart failure

Question 7

Pneumoconiosis investigations?

Answer 7

CXR, CT, bronchoscopy, LFTs. lung function tests (restrictive pattern)

Question 8

Pneumoconiosis investigations CXR?

Answer 8

Simple: micronodular mottling

Complicated: Nodular opacities in upper lobes Micronodular shadowing Eggshell calcification of hilar lymph nodes (characteristic of silicosis) Bilateral lower zone reticulonodular shadowing and pleural plaques (in asbestosis)