title: Unusual intestinal talcosis.
abstract: A case of intestinal talcosis in a 46-year-old man is reported. At the age of 27, the patient was treated for pulmonary tuberculosis with tablets containing talc (183 g talc per 2,670 g total drug intake) over a period of 28 months. Eighteen years later, the patient was hospitalized for abdominal pain that remained refractory to antacids; he subsequently underwent a right hemicolectomy. Light-microscopic examination revealed a prominent fibrosis of the intestinal wall in which birefringent particles were demonstrated by polarized light. Using energy-dispersive spectroscopy, an analysis of these particles showed that they were predominantly composed of silicon and magnesium as well as small amounts of phosphorus, sulphur, calcium, and iron--the spectrum typically associated with talc. We believe that the source of this talc is the tablets ingested by the patient during prior antituberculosis therapy.
authors: Institut de Pathologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Anani
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Ribaux
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Gardiol
mesh_terms: D002432:Cecum / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D003460:Crystallization; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013627:Talc / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D013627:Talc