A Case of Sarcoidosis in a Stonemason Exposed to Crystalline Silica.
- Author:
Young Seung CHO
1
;
Kyeong Yeon KIM
;
Hyoung Gyu YOON
;
Jung Wan KOO
Author Information
1. Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. jwkoo@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Pneumoconiosis;
Silicosis;
Sarcoidosis
- MeSH:
Autoimmune Diseases;
Biopsy;
Crystallins;
Humans;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Pneumoconiosis;
Sarcoidosis;
Silicon Dioxide;
Silicosis;
Thorax
- From:Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2012;24(2):189-194
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that can affect any organ, the exact cause of which is uncertain. Currently, investigations of crystalline silica improve the mechanism how it works the course of autoimmune diseases and some hypothesis supports that it also can attribute to sarcoidosis. CASE REPORT: The patient was a 53-year-old male, who works as a stonemason for 30 years. Sarcoidosis was suspected based on his chest X-ray and CT(Computed tomography). A biopsy was performed and he was indeed diagnosed with sarcoidosis. CONCLUSION: It is thought that sarcoidosis is more prevalent in the people who work at places with a risk of exposure to crystalline silica. This case suggests that if a patient gets sarcoidosis after being exposed to crystalline silica, or after once being diagnosed with silicosis, his or her sarcoidosis may have occurred due to exposure to crystalline silica.
