Pulmonary Silicosis Presents with Pleural Effusion.

Mohsin Salih,Melnick Jeffrey,Tarake Aljarod,Bobby H Shah,Mohamed Ayan

doi:10.1155/2015/543070

Abstract

Silica and silicate mineral dust inhalation can cause a variety of histopathological changes in the lungs and pleura. These include pulmonary silicotic nodules, interstitial infiltrate, fibrosis, and pleural thickening. Pleural effusion is an extremely rare presentation of silicosis. To our best knowledge, there have been only 2 cases of silicosis with pleural effusion reported in medical literature. Herein, we describe a case of a 77-year-old male with almost 50 years' history of occupational silica exposure. He presented with a 4-week history of exertional shortness of breath. He is a lifetime nonsmoker, with no known other significant pulmonary disease. He had chest X-ray which showed a right lung infiltrate and bilateral pleural thickening and effusion. Chest CT showed moderate-sized bilateral pleural effusion and thickening with multiple bilateral intrapulmonary nodules seen. He had undergone extensive workup and was diagnosed with silicosis.

Highlights

Various pleural involvements such as pleural thickening and progressive multifocal fibrosis (PMF) associated pleural invaginations are well-recognized complications associated with silicosis, advanced pulmonary silicosis
To the best of our knowledge, there have been only 2 cases reported in the medical literature that described pulmonary silicosis presented with pleural effusion
The pulmonary silicosis is a well-known occupational lung disease caused by silica inhalation; new cases of pulmonary silicosis are still seen in clinical practice

Summary

Introduction

Various pleural involvements such as pleural thickening and progressive multifocal fibrosis (PMF) associated pleural invaginations are well-recognized complications associated with silicosis, advanced pulmonary silicosis. Pleural effusion is not a well-recognized finding in patients with silicosis. To the best of our knowledge, there have been only 2 cases reported in the medical literature that described pulmonary silicosis presented with pleural effusion. We describe a case of a 77-year-old gentleman who presented with shortness of breath and bilateral pleural effusion. The patient had undergone extensive workup and was diagnosed with pulmonary silicosis

Case Presentation

Discussion

Findings

Conclusion