A dental technician with pulmonary fibrosis: a case of chromium-cobalt alloy pneumoconiosis?

Eur Respir J. 1990 Nov;3(10):1227-9.

Abstract

A 45 yr old male developed pulmonary fibrosis after 29 yrs of employment as a dental technician. He subsequently developed adenocarcinoma of the lung. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis was seen using light microscopy. Neutron activation analysis of non-neoplastic lung tissue demonstrated high levels of chromium and cobalt suggesting the possibility of a chromium-cobalt alloy pneumoconiosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Chromium Alloys / adverse effects*
  • Chromium Alloys / analysis
  • Dental Technicians*
  • Humans
  • Lung / chemistry
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology*
  • Pneumoconiosis / etiology*
  • Pneumoconiosis / pathology
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / etiology*

Substances

  • Chromium Alloys