"Samosa" pneumoconiosis: a case of pulmonary talcosis uncovered during a medicolegal autopsy.
Talcosis is a rare form of pneumoconiosis caused by long-term exposure to talc (hydrous magnesium silicate) through inhalation or intravenous exposures. Although it occurs commonly as an occupational hazard or is due to abuse/overuse of talc, talcosis in the course of food adulteration is seldom or hardly reported. We present a case of talcosis in a worker who had considerable exposure to talc during the initial preparation of "samosa," a triangular fried Indian savory. There were typical pulmonary histological findings of talcosis with extensive deposition of birefringent crystals in histiocytes. On account of this unusual pathogenesis, we have coined a new terminology "samosa pneumoconiosis" to describe this condition.
From the Departments of *Forensic Medicine and †Pathology (Cardiovascular and Thoracic Division), Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai, India.
Dhritiman
D
Nath
Pradeep
P
Vaideeswar
Jayashri
J
Chaudhary
Walter
W
Vaz
D000328:Adult; D003296:Cooking; D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D013627:Talc / Q000009:adverse effects*
D013627:Talc