hard-metal pneumoconiosis
A hard metal pneumoconiosis is usually classified as a type of fibrotic pneumoconiosis where the precipitating agent consists of a fine particulate form of hard metal such as:
- cobalt/cobalt-tungsten alloys
- tungsten/tungsten carbide alloys
- implicated alloys often contain small amounts of other metals :
- tantalum, titanium, nickel, niobium, chromium
Terminology
A broader term used is hard metal lung disease (HMLD) which also takes into account the non-fibrotic stages/forms such as bronchitis/obliterative bronchitis caused by hard metal lung disease.
Epidemiology
Hard metals are widely used for industrial purposes which require extreme hardness and high-temperature resistances, such as for cutting tools, oil well drilling, and jet engine exhaust ports . Hard metal utilization plants can contain enclosed chamber and with each application, large volumes of fine aerosols can be created.
Typical at-risk occupations include manufacturers and sharpeners of tools, machine operators (e.g. grinders and lathes), diamond polishers (the polishing discs employ hard metals).
The vast majority of individuals in these industries do not experience the consequent lung disease, supporting the hypothesis that immunogenetic factors are important .
Clinical presentation
Clinical presentation can be similar to that of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, with some patients having episodes of work-related subacute disease and some patients evolving, more or less rapidly, to lung fibrosis .
Pathology
The pathogenesis of this condition remains unclear, however a leading hypothesis is that the metal dust (primarily the cobalt) elicits a hypersensitivity reaction in the lungs .
Histology
Histopathological manifestations of hard-metal disease can range from bronchitis to subacute fibrosing alveolitis to interstitial fibrosis . A combination of electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry is required in suspected cases to identify the tiny particles of hard metals in the tissue samples. Tungsten particles are usually in high concentration; conversely cobalt is often low concentration only, due to the easier solubility of the cobalt in body fluids and its more rapid clearance in the tissues .
Diagnostic criteria
Some authors outlined a set of diagnostic criteria which includes :
- history of exposure to metal dust
- characteristic clinical features, including shortness of breath, cough, and dyspnea on exertion over a prolonged period
- radiologic findings of interstitial lung disease
- histologic findings of interstitial lung disease or a giant cell interstitial pneumonia pattern (a large number of giant cells filling airspaces), with thickening of the interstitium and alveolar walls by mononuclear cells
- histopathologic finding of metallic content in lung tissue
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
Plain chest radiographic features are non-specific. A chest radiograph may be normal or show a nodular, reticulonodular, or reticular pattern.
CT
An exposure history of hard metal is essential in image interpretation. Described features are non-specific on their own and a dependent on the stage. These include :
- reticulation
- traction bronchiectasis
- large peripheral cystic spaces in a mid and upper lung distribution
- patchy lobular bilateral ground-glass opacities
- areas of consolidation
- centrilobular nodularity
- honeycombing (occasionally)
See also
- giant cell interstitial pneumonia: peculiar form of interstitial lung disease which is strongly related to - but not exclusive to - tungsten or cobalt exposure
- hard metal asthma: asthma related to exposure to hard metals without any pulmonary fibrosis
- interstitial lung disease
Siehe auch:
Assoziationen und Differentialdiagnosen zu hard-metal pneumoconiosis:
