Pneumoconiosis is a non-neoplastic lung reaction caused by inhalation of mineral dusts and is critical to diagnose as an occupational lung disease. Key forms include silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and asbestosis, with various pathophysiological mechanisms leading to fibrosis and lung dysfunction over time. The document details the clinical features, pathogenesis, diagnostic imaging findings, and preventative measures associated with these diseases.

1. Pneumoconiosis
Hamdi Turkey- Pulmonologist

2. Definition
•Non neoplastic lung reaction to inhalation of mineral
dusts encountered in the workplace.
•Also includes diseases induced by organic, inorganic
particulates and chemical fumes and vapors.
•Important to diagnose as they are “occupational lung
diseases.”e.g. silica, coal, asbestos
•Some dusts e.g. tin, iron are innocuous

4. Normal protective mechanisms
•Mucociliary apparatus >10 μm diameter, deposit in bronchi
& bronchioles and removed in the mucociliary escalator.
•Intra-alveolar macrophages-phagocytosis of particles &
expectorated. Some go through interstitium into
lymphatics.
•Very Small particles behave like gas & exhaled

5. •Nose & trachea traps all particles >10 μm
& 50% of 3μm
•Mucociliary blanket 2-10 μm removed in the mucociliary
escalator.
•Alveolar macrophages <2 μm removed
•Very small particles are not phagocytosed,but exhaled.
Normal protective mechanisms

6. •Amount of dust retained in the lung (concentration,
duration, clearence mechanisms)
•Size, shape and bouyancy of particles (aerodynamic
diameter) (1-5μ size dangerous sized particles reach the
periphery : bronchioles & alveoli)
•Additional effects of other irritants (smoking)
• Solubility & physiochemical
• reactivity
Factors affecting fibrogenic potential

7. Solubility & cytotoxicity of particles
•Small particles dissolve in pulmonary fluids→ acute
toxicity
•Larger,non soluble persist in lung parenchyma
•Some dusts directly penetrate the epithelial cells into the
interstitium.
Physiochemical reactivity
•Direct injury to tissue (free radicals )e.g. Quartz
Fibrosing pneumoconiosis (eg silicosis)
Factors affecting fibrogenic potential

8. Pathogenesis
• Ingested dusts trigger macrophages to release
chemical mediators that trigger fibrosis (TNF, IL
1,PDGF).
• Persistent release of factors causes fibrosis
• Migrating macrophages to lymphatics trigger
immune reaction
• Fibrosis (nodular-silica, interstitial – asbestos ??)

9. • Inhalation
• Escape removal by defence apparatus
• Particles penetrate epithelium → direct injury
• Fibrosis
• Engulfment by alveolar & interstitial macrophages
→ lymphatics → lymph node (modify immune
response )
Pathogenesis

10. • Associated with coal mining industry
• Carbon + silica (anthracosilicosis)
Classification
• Asymptomatic anthracosis (anthracite –coal)
• Simple CWP- no dysfunction
• Complicated CWP- (progressive massive fibrosis PMF)
Coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP)

11. •Gross Streaks of anthracotic pigment in
lymphatics and draining hilar lymph nodes
Microscopy
•Carbon pigment in alveolar and interstitial
macrophages,in connective tissue and
lymphatics and lung hilus.
Anthracosis (urban dwellers)
morphology

12. Gross :Coal macules (1-2mm) & Coal nodules
>upper lobes and upper zones of lower lobes
Microscopy: Carbon laden macrophages & delicate
collagen fibres. Adjacent to respiratory bronchioles
initially (where dust settles), later interstium &
alveoli.
Dilatation of respiratory bronchioles –focal dust
emphysema
Simple CWP

13. Gross
•Multiple.,>2 cm ,v dark
scars
Microscopy:
•Dense collagen and
carbon pigment.
•Central necrosis (+/-)
Complicated CWP

14. • Usually asymptomatic with little decrease of lung function
• PMF pulmonary dysfunction (restrictive)
• Pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale
• Progressive even if further exposure to dust is prevented
• ↑ chronic bronchitis and emphysema
• No association with TB or carcinoma
Clinical course

16. • 1st
described in coal workers, may be seen in
other pneumoconiosis
• ?? Immunopathologic mechanism
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) + Rheumatoid
nodules (Caplan nodules) in the lung
• Rheumatoid arthritis + pneumoconioses
• Caplans nodule = necrosis surrounded by
fibroblasts,monocytes and collagen
• s/s RA > lung symptoms
Caplans syndrome

17. Silicosis
•Silicosis-nodular fibrosing disease
after 20-40 yrs exposure to silica
•Sand blasters,mine workers,stone
cutting, polishing of
metals,ceramic manufacturing etc.
•(Acute silicosis following massive
exposure –alveolar lipoproteinosis
like. Rapidly progressive disease. )

18. A 35-year old stonemason was referred to hospital following routine health surveillance
at his work. He reported no respiratory symptoms. Lung function tests had shown an
FEV1 of 5.0L (114% predicted) when he was aged 25 and, although remaining within
normal limits, had fallen over the intervening 10 years to 3.3L (85% predicted). A chest
X-ray showed a profusion of small nodules in the upper and mid zones consistent with
silicosis (Figure 2). He had smoked 20 cigarettes per day from his late teens.
Clinical scenario

19. Pathogenesis
• Fibrogenic activity depends on physical form, association
with other minerals.
• Crystalline silica (quartz) more toxic.
• (Amorphous forms talc, mica less toxic)
• Size 0.2-2μm more dangerous
• Silica particles ingested by alveolar macrophages, kill them
and release fibrogenic factors. Released silica ingested
again.
• Recruitment of lymphocytes and macrophages
• Fibrotic silicotic nodule

20. • Discrete pale to black nodules
<1cm dia.
• Upper zone of lungs
• Hard collagenous scars-central
softening
• Fibrosis in hilar lymph nodes
and pleura
• Enlarged fibrotic LN with
peripheral (eggshell)
calcification
• PMF nodules >2 cm dia+
silicosis
Gross morphology

21. • Concentric hyalinized
collagen surrounded by
condensed
collagen,fibroblasts &
lymphocytes.
• Birefringent silica particles
(polarized light)
• Nodules incorporate normal
lung tissue into themselves.
Microscopy

22. • Asymptomatic, Dry cough, SOB
• Early :X Ray fine nodularity in
upper zones of lungs. Eggshell
calcification in hilar LN
• PFT normal/moderately affected
initially
• PMF: Progressive disease even
after exposure stopped.
• X ray nodules >2 cm dia.
• PFT markedly ↓
• Associated tuberculosis (↓CMI)
• Carcinogenic ??
Clinical features

23. Prevention
• Air handling equipment in work place
• Use of face masks.

24. • Asbestos = unquenchable
• Asbsetos is resistant to physical and chemical destruction and is therefore used for
fire proofing, insulation, brake lining etc.
• Construction material
• Ship demolition industry
Asbestos

25. Clinical scenario
A man of 78 reports gradually worsening
breathlessness; he has no relevant medical history
of note and has never been a regular smoker. His
spirometry reveals that both his FEV1 and FVC
are about 50% of their predicted values; the
machine interprets this as a ‘restrictive’ picture. In
his 20’s-30’s he spent about 15 years working in
the boiler rooms of a power station. A chest X-ray
reveals several pleural plaques, some calcified, but
no other abnormalities.
Because of his symptoms and pulmonary function
abnormality (neither of which could be explained
by pleural plaques alone – see Box 1) he was
referred for further investigation. A thoracic CT
scan identified a limited degree of bilateral, lower
zone fibrosis. The combination of these findings
with his history of occupational exposure was
considered sufficient for a diagnosis of asbestosis.

26. • Fibrous plaques-focal/diffuse
• Pleural effusion
• Parenchymal interstitial fibrosis (asbestosis-diffuse interstitial
process)
• Lung carcinoma
• Malignant Mesothelioma
• Extrapulmonary malignancies- larynx,?colon
Asbestos related lung diseases

27. Serpentine
• Curly,more used in industry
e.g.chrysotile.
• less pathogenic
• Breaks into fragments
• Fibrogenic
• Impacts in upper airways &
removed by mucociliary
apparatus & more soluble-
leached out
• Not associated with
mesothelioma
Amphibole
• straight & stiff
• e.g. crocidolite
• more pathogenic
• Resists breaking into
fragments
• Fibrogenic
• Align in airstream & go
deep ,penetrate
epithelium,enter
interstitium
• <0.5 μm thick,>8 μm long
more fibrogenic
• Associated with
mesothelioma
Forms of asbestos

28. Fibrogenic potential like other inorganic dusts
Tumour initiator and promoter
Asbestos fibers localized in distal airways (close to
mesothelium) release reactive free radicals
Absorption of carcinogens on asbestos fibres e.g.
smoking
Pathogenesis

29. • Diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis
• Begins in the lower lobes & subpleurally (silica &CWP >upper)
• Honeycomb lung
• Pleural plaques

30. • Interstitial fibrosis around respiratory bronchioles and alveolar ducts,
involves adjacent alveoli
• Asbestos bodies –golden brown fusiform or beaded rods with a
tranluscent centre (asbestos fibre coated by iron containing proteinaceous
material)
• Trapping & narrowing of pulmonary arteries
Microscopy

31. Clinical course
• Dypsnoea
• Cough with
sputum
• May progress
to respiratory
failure ,
cor pulmonale
• Cancer