Fallbericht zu einer seltenen Berufskrankheit: Eine zu Lebzeiten nicht anerkannte Talkose Case Report of a Rare Occupational Disease: A During Life Non-Recognised Occupational Disease - Talcosis

Le résumé fourni par la source

Talc is a hydrated magnesium silicate used in the chemical, ceramic, cosmetic, leather, paper and building industries. Interstitial lung disease - tal- cosis - due to exclusive talc inhalation is a rare form of pneumoconiosis. More often, pulmonary disease due to talc is encountered after intrave- nous administration of talc during drug abuse. Talc can contain asbestos or quartz particles which induce asbestosis or silicosis. Here we present a case report about a worker who was ex- posed to talcum during his work in tyre manu- facturing. During his lifetime an occupational dis- ease was not recognised. The deceased had been forwarded to cremation; the legally prescribed second inspection of the corpse induced the sus- picion of an occupational disease and an autopsy was ordered. The autopsy revealed a lung fibrosis with honeycomb lung alterations and under pola- rised light a massive burden with birefringed crystalline particles could be visualised. Light and electron microscopic lung dust analyses could exclude an elevated asbestos lung burden. The element analysis of foreign body material in lung tissue confirmed its chemical composition of magnesium and silicon which was consistent with talc. Based on the pathological and minera- logical findings, the confirmed occupational ex- posure towards talc and, due to the exclusion of other possible causes (asbestos, quartz), the diag- nose of a talc-induced interstitial lung fibrosis - talcosis - was established. This case emphasises the importance of pathological-anatomic exami- nations in combination with lung dust analysis to reveal occupational exposure as a cause of an interstitial lung disease.

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