Radiological Findings in the Case Exposed to Zirconium

Pneumoconiosis is a lung disease that develops as a result of a tissue reaction that occurs with the accumulation of inorganic particles. Pathoclinical features may vary depending on the type of inhaled particle. Today, fibrotic and nonfibrotic tissue reactions are well defined in some substances. For example, it is known that exposures such as silica, asbestos, beryllium, and talc are associated with fibrosis in the lung, while exposures such as iron, tin, and barium sulfate cause non-fibrogenic changes. However, the pathoclinic and radiological findings of some rare exposures such as zirconium are not widely known. In a 52-year-old dental technician with a 26-year history of zirconium exposure, more prominent parenchymal emphysematous and fibrotic changes were detected in the upper zones of the thorax high-resolution computed tomography. Since zirconium exposure was clearly defined, radiological findings of this case may be useful to current literature.