Talc Pneumoconiosis (Talcosis)
Epidemiology and Etiology:
- Mining, milling
- Rubber, steel industries
- Drug abuse
- Filler used in many medications intended for
oral consumption
- IV injection of crushed tablets
- pleurodesis
Common sites:
Gross features:
Histologic features:
- Fibrosis, peribronchiolar
and perivascular, patchy
- Dust deposits, abundant
- Needle-like particles within giant cells
- polarizing
- Granulomas variably
- Resembling sarcoidosis in some cases
- Note: endogenous calcium carbonate needle-like
particles may be seen in sarcoidosis
- IV drug abuse
- Talc granulomas within pulmonary vascularture (intravascular) and alveolar septal
(capillary) walls, numerous
- Progressive massive fibrosis in some cases
- Paracicatricial emphysema concomitant maybe, pronounced in some cases
- Talc particles larger on average than with
inhalational, often too large to be deposited by inhalation
- Inhalational talcosis:
- Perivascular and peribronchiolar
involvemet
- Intra-alveolar ferruginous bodies maybe
- Ferruginous bodies maybe
- Broad yellow sheet silicate-type cores
- Asbestos bodies maybe (if talc is contaminated
with substantial amounts of asbestos)
- Silicotic
nodules maybe (if there is substantial contamination with quartz)
Immunophenotype:
Marker:
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Sensitivity:
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Specificity:
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Molecular features:
Other features:
References:
- Leslie. Practical
Pulmonary Pathology – A Diagnostic Approach (2nd ed, 2011)