A person who inhales talc may develop a pneumoconiosis.
Talc is hydrated magnesium silicate. Exposure may be pure talc or may involve other types of mineral dust such as silica (talcosilicosis) or asbestos (talcoasbestosis).
Clinical features:
(1) The person has a history of working with talc.
(2) The patient may present with dyspnea and chronic cough resembling chronic bronchitis.
(3) Imaging studies show pulmonary interstitial fibrosis (which may be severe)
(3a) with or without nodularities
(3b) with or without hilar lymphadenopathy
(3c) with or without emphysema in the lower lobes
(4) A lung biopsy shows noncaseating granulomas around birefringent crystals.
Complications may include:
(1) respiratory failure
(2) pulmonary hypertension with cor pulmonale
Differential diagnosis:
(1) pulmonary talcosis secondary to intravenous injection of an oral medication
(2) other pneumoconisosis
(3) chronic bronchitis or other complications of cigarette smoking
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