Lung granulomatosis in a dental technician

✍ Scribed by P. Brancaleone; B. Weynand; P. De Vuyst; D. Stanescu; T. Pieters

• Book ID: 101240025
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 322 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0271-3586
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199812)34:6<628::aid-ajim12>3.0.co;2-9

✦ Synopsis

Background:

Dental technicians are potentially exposed to various occupational dusts and chemicals. not surprisingly, occupational related lung diseases have been documented in this population.

Methods:

We describe the case of a dental laboratory technician presenting progressive exertional dyspnea and cough. we used lung function tests, computed tomography, histological examination, mineralogical and immunological studies to characterize his condition.

Results:

Lung function studies disclosed a restrictive pattern with a low diffusion capacity. a high-resolution ct scan revealed the presence of micronodules in both lungs corresponding to non-caseating foreign body granulomas at histological examination. mineralogic studies showed the presence of silica, silicates, and aluminum. the lymphocytic transformation test was positive with the bronchoalveolar lavage for beryllium.

Conclusions:

This dental technician developed pulmonary granulomatosis. combined histological, mineralogical, and immunological studies led us to consider the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis most likely related to occupational exposure to beryllium and aluminum.