Clinical and radiological manifestations of silicotuberculosis

Abstract

The authors analysed clinical and radiologic signs in 32 silicotuberculosis patients who equalled to 12.6% of 252 pneumoconiosis patients observed in pulmonology hospital. Among the silicituberculosis patients, the diagnosis was primary in 88% (28/32). In other cases, tuberculosis was a complication of previously diagnosed silicosis (2/32), or silicosis developed on background of formerly inactive tuberculosis (2/32). The silicotuberculosis was presented mostly with local forms of tuberculosis (56%, 18/32) and nodular+nodular interstitial forms of silicosis (66%, 21/32). Changed respiratory function was seen in 63% (20/32) of the patients, with prevailing (41%, 13/32) obstructive type disorders. Follow-up during 2.4×0.4 years revealed lower diffusion ability of lungs and pulmonary hypertension and corpulmonale formation according to echocardiography — that could result from progression both of silicosis and meta-tuberculous pneumofi brosis. Suggestions are to monitor diffusion ability of lungs and echocardiographic parameters for evaluation of silicotuberculosis progression degree.