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Interstitial lung granulomas as a possible consequence of exposure to zirconium dust
L Romeo1, A Cazzadori, L Bontempini
1Institute of Occupational Medicine, University of Verona, Ospedale Policlinico.
Abstract:
A case of interstitial lung granulomas is described in a worker exposed to zirconium compounds. Chest X-rays revealed diffuse slight reticular interstitial radio-opacities (ILO classification, 1/0 s/t). Histological examination of transbronchial biopsy tissue revealed small interstitial nonconfluent granulomas with epithelioid and giant cells showing no central necrosis, with PAS-positive diastase-resistant small weakly birefringent particles in interstitial histiocytes. These histological and stain findings, which are characteristic of zirconium skin lesions and granulomas, suggest zirconium interstitial lung disease.