title: Diffuse interlobular septal thickening in a coal miner.
abstract: Diffuse interlobular septal thickening (DIST) is an abnormality seen on high-resolution CT (HRCT) scanning of the thorax. While DIST may be present to variable extents in a number of lung conditions, it is uncommon as a predominant finding except in a few entities. This report features an ex-coal miner, thought to have coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), in whom the HRCT scan showed no evidence of CWP and instead showed DIST. The patient's condition progressed incessantly towards death from severe secondary pulmonary hypertension. The case links fatal pulmonary hypertension to DIST, a pattern not previously described in coal workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston Road, Chorley PR7 1PP, UK.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Thrumurthy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kearney
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sissons
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haider
mesh_terms: D055008:Anthracosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003032:Coal Mining; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011660:Pulmonary Heart Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed