Kaolin pneumoconiosis. A case report.
A 35-year-old man who had been occupationally exposed to aerosolized kaolin for 17 years in a Georgia processing plant had diffuse reticulonodular pulmonary infiltrates and an upper lobe mass. Exploratory thoracotomy, performed to evaluate the nature of the mass, revealed an 8 X 12 X 10-cm conglomerate pneumoconiotic lesion containing large amounts of kaolinite. Coincident deposition of silica in the tissue was not demonstrable by either analytic scanning electron microscopy or x-ray diffraction. The case illustrates the effect of chronic kaolin exposure on the human lung and emphasizes the need for periodic evaluation of exposed workers.
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007616:Kaolin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D007616:Kaolin