Mediastinal fibrosis and radiofrequency radiation exposure: is there an association?
A 45-year-old officer, working for a period of 18 years at a military radar base, presented with progressive exertional dyspnea, dry cough, and hemoptysis. Subsequent evaluation demonstrated a left pulmonary artery occlusion as well as a left upper lobe bronchus stenosis, due to a dense fibrotic mediastinal mass. Histologically, this proved to be idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis (IMF). The development of IMF in a man exposed for a long period to radio-frequency radiation (RFR) is unique in the literature in English. The possible association of radiation exposure with IMF is discussed.
Papandreou
L
L
Pulmonary Department, Army General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Panagou
P
P
Bouros
D
D
D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011825:Radar; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed