Pneumoconioses

Pneumonconioses are chronic lung diseases caused by exposure to a mineral dust or metal. Therefore, a complete occupational and environmental history is an important part of the diagnostic approach.

Patients may be asymptomatic or have progressive shortness of breath. Cough and wheezing may be present.

Diagnosis is usually made by the typical chest x-ray appearance and history of exposure. The beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test is important for early diagnosis and to confirm the diagnosis of chronic beryllium disease.

Cigarette smoking cessation is important to reduce the risk of lung cancer and the development of COPD.

Depending on the degree of impairment, patients may benefit from oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation. Oral corticosteroid therapy is used in the treatment of chronic beryllium disease.

The pneumoconioses are a group of interstitial lung diseases, mostly of occupational origin, caused by the inhalation of mineral or metal dusts. This topic will cover three of the major diseases in this category: silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung disease), and chronic beryllium disease (berylliosis).

Asbestosis is another major type of pneumoconiosis. See Asbestosis.

There are many other less-common pneumoconioses, including siderosis (associated with iron) and talcosis.