Splenic Silicosis: A Rare Cause of Splenic Calcifications

Silicosis, an occupational menace is an irreversible lung disease caused by inhalation of tiny particles of crystalline silica. It is an occupational hazard both in industrialized as well as developing nations. Thoracic involvement is commonly described following exposure to silica, but extrathoracic involvement is a rare occurrence and often an incidental finding. It can manifest as calcifications in the liver, spleen, abdominal, axillary and cervical lymph nodes in addition to intrathoracic involvement. Silicosis as a cause of splenic calcifications often gets buried under the common differentials like tuberculosis, acquired immunodeficiency syndromes, amyloidosis, and Gamna-Gandy bodies. We herein describe a case of chronic complicated silicosis with splenic calcifications which appear similar to intrathoracic calcifications.