Diatomite Pneumoconiosis and its Tuberculosis Complication

Diagnostic challenge of a complication of pneumoconiosis.

To cite: Ng P. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2013200643 DESCRIPTION This 68-year-old man was followed up in the rheumatology clinic for his new onset rheumatoid arthritis. He is an ex-smoker with known 15% pneumoconiosis having worked in a coal mine for 30 years. He had a routine chest X-ray (CXR) prior to starting methotrexate which showed a 5 c...

Massive melanoptysis: a serious unrecognized complication of coal worker's pneumoconiosis.

Black sputum is produced when cavitation of progressive massive fibrosis occurs due to mycobacterial and anaerobic bacterial infections (67%) or ischaemic necrosis. The blackish or greyish sputum suggests cavitation of conglomerated masses; the acinar shadows in gravity dependent areas together with cavitary pneumoconiosis, make us suspect an insufficiency of bronchial clearing. Bronchoscopy co...

Atypical mycobacteriosis as a complication of talc pneumoconiosis.

A 57 year old man, receiving compensation for talc pneumoconiosis since 1977, was admitted to hospital for the first time in 1987, with symptoms of weight loss, fever, dyspnoea and productive cough. A chest roentgenogram showed bilateral cavitation. Two years later, Mycobacterium xenopi was found in sputum cultures. Despite specific oral antibiotherapy, the patient's health deteriorated and he ...

Influence of surgery for peptic ulcer on pneumoconiosis and tuberculosis.

Mechanical complication of endobronchial tuberculosis

A 19-year-old Vietnamese lady was diagnosed with culture positive, left upper lobe pulmonary tuberculosis for which medical treatment was initiated. Four months into treatment, she developed a 'rubber-band-like' stretching sensation in her left chest with wheezing and shortness of breath. Decreased respiratory excursion over the left lung was present on physical-examination. Chest-Xray revealed...