Silicosis

Diagnosis of Silicosis

Silicosis is an insidious, progressive lung disease. High exposures can produce acute silicosis with dramatic impairment, and even death, without concomitant fibrosis. At lower exposures, silicosis produces distinct lung scarring, generally rounded opacities and nodules in the upper lobes, as opposed to lower lobe, linear scarring in asbestosis.

Fungal and bacterial infections often complicate silicosis tuberculosis is often a complication with fatal results. Physicians unfamiliar with the disease or a patient's work history may misdiagnose pulmonary edema or pneumonia rather than silicosis.

Does Silica exposure lead to Lung Cancer? Over 32 studies of silica and lung cancer have been published. Steenland and Stayner [1997] and IARC [1997] found that the majority of studies of silicotics reported statistically significant excess lung cancer risks across different countries, industries, and time periods while controlling for the effects of cigarette smoking [Steenland and Stayner 1997; IARC 1997].