A person who inhales relatively pure silica may develop an acute form of silicosis that resembles alveolar proteinosis.
Clinical features:
(1) rapid progression from cough and dyspnea to respiratory failure
(2) history of recent significant exposure to free silica (pure silicon dioxide)
(3) fever, weight loss and other constitional symptoms
(4) eventually cor pulmonale
Occupations at risk:
(1) sandblasters (most common history)
(2) exposure to fly ash
(3) scouring powder
(4) silica flour workers
(5) tunnel workers
(6) quartzite millers
Radiologic findings are typically widespread:
(1) bilateral lung consolidation
(2) nodules, usually centrilobular
(3) ground glass opacities
(4) calcified hilar lymph nodes
A lung biopsy shows a histologic picture resembling alveolar proteinosis with silica deposits.
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Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
ICD-10: ,
