Early Identification, Accurate Diagnosis, and Treatment of Silicosis

Abstract

Silicosis is a global problem, and it has brought about great burdens to society and patients’ families. The etiology of silicosis is clear, preventable, and controllable, but the onset is hidden and the duration is long. Thus, it is difficult to diagnose it early and treat it effectively, leaving workers unaware of the consequences of dust exposure. As such, a lack of details in the work history and a slow progression of lung disease contribute to the deterioration of patients until silicosis has advanced to fibrosis. These issues are the key factors impeding the diagnosis and the treatment of silicosis. This article reviews the literature on the early identification, diagnosis, and treatment of silicosis as well as analyzes the difficulties in the diagnosis and the treatment of silicosis and discusses its direction of future development.

Understanding Pneumoconiosis, A Misdiagnosed Subtype of Diffuse Interstitial Lung Disease

“…The onset of cough and difficulty breathing due to chronic silicosis usually occurs between 10 and 25 years after exposure. Chronic silicosis is divided into two categories based on chest imaging results: simple and complicated [31,33]. In simple silicosis, bilateral reticulonodular opacities are present in the upper lobes, with occasional lower lobe linear interstitial opacities, along with possible pleural thickening or effusion.…”

“…In simple silicosis, bilateral reticulonodular opacities are present in the upper lobes, with occasional lower lobe linear interstitial opacities, along with possible pleural thickening or effusion. Complicated silicosis, also known as progressive massive fibrosis, is diagnosed with large opacities seen on chest radiographs or conglomerate opacities on chest HRCT scans [33]. Lung function varies depending on the stage of the disease and may show mixed obstructive and restrictive ventilatory abnormalities, with restrictive defects in advanced cases.…”

Quercetin Alleviates Pulmonary Fibrosis in Silicotic Mice by Inhibiting Macrophage Transition and TGF-β-Smad2/3 Pathway

“…The pathology of silicosis is characterized by severe alveolitis, silicotic nodules, and collagen (Col) deposits. To date, no effective early prevention, diagnosis, and timely drug treatment methods have been available [ 2 ]. Quercetin is a polyhydroxylated flavonoid with many unique biological properties, including anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities.…”

The importance of tomographic findings for the diagnosis of silicotuberculosis: case report

“…3,[7][8][9][10] Several diseases are associated with silicosis such as, tuberculosis, 11 mycobacterial infection, lung cancer, 7,12 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 5,7 autoimmune diseases (scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ANCA vasculitis, in addition to renal impairment. 3,7,13 The association of tuberculosis in a patient with silicosis is called silicotuberculosis. The risk of pulmonary tuberculosis is greater in individuals with a current or previous history of exposure to silica, with or without silicosis, with a risk up to 40 times greater than when compared to the general population.…”