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Occupational Medicine 2004 54(7):497-499; doi:10.1093/occmed/kqh107
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Occupational Medicine Vol. 54 No. 7 © Society of Occupational Medicine 2004; all rights reserved

Case Report

A possible case of pneumoconiosis in a limestone quarry worker

F. Crummy1, I. Carl1, C. H. S. Cameron2 and L. G. Heaney1

1 Regional Respiratory Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, UK.
2 Department of Pathology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, UK.

Background

A 43-year-old man presented with wheeze and shortness of breath. He had an occupational history of working in a limestone quarry. Pulmonary function testing revealed a mixed obstructive/restrictive defect. Chest X-ray revealed nodular shadowing throughout both lung fields.

Methods

Subsequent thoracoscopic lung biopsy was performed and histology of the nodules revealed a foreign body granulomatous reaction with numerous fluorescent particles seen under polarized light. There was no evidence of interstitial fibrosis.

Results

Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) scanning confirmed that these particles contained calcium, aluminium and silicon and had a composition consistent with limestone.

Conclusions

This case demonstrates a possible unusual reaction to inorganic dust particles without resultant fibrosis.

Keywords      Limestone; pneumoconiosis

Received       11 December 2003
Revised         19 May 2004
Accepted       22 June 2004

Correspondence to: Dr L. G. Heaney, Regional Respiratory Centre, Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7AB, UK. Tel: +44 2890329241; e-mail: liam.heaney{at}bch.n-i.nhs.uk


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