Six cases of silicosis: implications for health surveillance of stonemasons

Occupational Medicine
L M NicolP T Reid

Abstract

Silicosis is one of the oldest occupational lung diseases, but it continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. To report cases of silicosis presenting to two specialist respiratory clinics. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of cases of silicosis in workers referred to specialist respiratory clinics. Over the course of 6 years, six cases were identified. The patients were all male with an age range between 24 and 39 years. The duration of silica exposure ranged between 7 and 20 years (mean 13 years). Four cases were entirely asymptomatic at presentation, and two cases described minimal shortness of breath on exertion. Pulmonary function tests were normal in three cases, and a mild restrictive ventilatory defect was documented in the other cases. All had a low apparent predicted probability of pneumoconiosis based on health questionnaires, spirometry and duration of silica exposure. The initial chest X-ray was abnormal in all six cases with radiological evidence of silicosis (International Labour Office profusion category ≥1/1) on imaging, and all had evidence of silicosis on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Three patients had already progressed to progressive massive fibrosi...Continue Reading

References

Apr 6, 2007·Occupational and Environmental Medicine·Eva SuarthanaEvert Meijer
Mar 1, 2011·Occupational and Environmental Medicine·E MeijerD Heederik

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Citations

Apr 1, 2015·Occupational Medicine·Andrew Mounstephen
Nov 12, 2018·Occupational and Environmental Medicine·Christopher Michael BarberMartie van Tongeren
Jun 26, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Mariella CarrieriLorenzo G Cena
Sep 14, 2019·Respirology : Official Journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology·Hayley BarnesRyan Hoy

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