Lung, Silicosis [LMP49267]

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Image Details
Diagnostic Modality: 
Whole Slide Image
Disease Category: 
Cellular Responses to Stress and Toxic Insults: Adaptation, Injury, and Death
Diagnosis: 
Silicosis with progressive massive fibrosis
Species: 
Human
Organ System: 
Lung
Gender: 
Male
Age: 
47 years
Diagnosis Code: 
ICD-10: J62.8
Slide Contributor Information
Shao, T.

Keywords

silicosis, pulmonary fibrosis

Clinical History

47 year-old man with occupation history of working as a sandblaster for many years.

Clinical Discussion

Silicosis is currently the most prevalent chronic occupational disease in the world. Patients usually present decades after inhalation of crystalline silicon dioxide with a slowly progressing, nodular, fibrosing pneumoconiosis. After inhalation, the particles are phagocytosed by macrophages, leading to the release of inflammtory mediators. In its early stage, silicosis is characterized by tiny, discrete pale to blackened nodules in the hilar lymph nodes and upper zones of the lungs. As the disease progresses, the silicotic nodules coalesce into hard, collagenous scars and may produce progressive massive fibrosis. The disease may continue to worsen even if the exposure is removed.

This section of the lung shows multiple hyalinized nodules in a bronchovascular distribution, with coalescent scars and extensive fibrosis of the lung parenchyma.