[Pathological observations on massive fibrosis of coal-mine pneumoconiosis]

Morphological studies on massive pulmonary fibrosis due to pneumoconiosis in 42 cases were performed. The cases were divided into two types: the coalescence of fibrotic nodules type and the progressive massive fibrosis type. The former includes fusion of simple silica or coal-silica nodules and coalescence of mainly coal-silico-tubercle nodules. When pneumoconiosis is complicated by tuberculosis, the coal-silico-tubercle is the pathological change caused by the combination of dust and inflammation. The resulting conglomerate mass can be classified as progressive massive fibrosis. A comparison of micro-element content between non-massive fibrosis and massive fibrosis was made, and only the silicon content showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). The morphology, pathogenesis and formation of progressive massive fibrosis are discussed.