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Paediatric Pulmonology and Allergology
2008 October, Vol. XI, No. 2 (3961-3968)
PNEUMOCONIOSES
Virginija Sileikiene, Edvardas Danila, Remigijus Nargela
Clinic of Chest Diseases, Allergology and Radiology of Vilnius University Medical Faculty, Vilnius, Lithuania
Occupational exposure to airborne particles of respirable dust occurs in numerous industries and occupations. Pneumoconiosis is a tissue reaction to the presence of an accumulation of dust in the lungs. One clinicopathologic form of this reaction is fibrosis, which can be focal and nodular or diffuse. It often results in radiographic abnormalities and, if extensive enough, may lead to significant functional impairment. Since 1998 thirty patients with newly diagnosed pneumoconiosis were evaluated retrospectively in our clinic. Respirable silica was the main dust in known cases. Most of the patients were miners. Miners and sand blasters had most severe disease – acute silicosis.