title: Kaolinosis in a cotton mill worker.
abstract: A 62-year-old white male employed for 43 years in the polishing room of a cotton textile mill was admitted to a tertiary care center with progressive dyspnea and productive cough that had not responded to therapy for tuberculosis. In spite of aggressive antibiotic therapy and respiratory support, the patient died as a consequence of respiratory failure. Small rounded and irregular opacities had been noted on the chest radiograph. Review of job-site spirometry demonstrated a worsening restrictive pattern over a 4-year period prior to his death. Additional occupational history revealed long-term exposure to kaolin in the polishing room, and pathologic examination of lung tissue confirmed extensive fibrosis and substantial quantities of kaolin. Kaolinosis is a disease typically found among individuals involved in mining or processing this material rather than in user industries. This case illustrates the importance of obtaining a complete occupational history in reaching a diagnosis. The clinicopathologic aspects of kaolinosis are also reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Texas Health Center at Tyler 75710, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McConnell
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Dodson
mesh_terms: D017809:Fatal Outcome; D003368:Gossypium; D006801:Humans; D007616:Kaolin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007616:Kaolin