Saturday, September 19, 2009

Clinical gems...Pulmonary Medicine

We'll continue with interesting topics from the field of Pulmonology. Essentially,

illnesses caused by environmental/occupational factors.



Q: What is the most common cause of Mesothelioma?

A: ASBESTOS exposure-long term. (Of note, it is NOT associated with smoking).



Q: What is Farmer's Lung?

A: A pneumonia like illness, occuring 4-8 hrs. after exposure to MOLDY HAY.
The organism causing the illness is Thermophilic Actinomyces.



Q: What occupational illness causes "monday chest tightness"?

A: BYSSINOSIS...exposure to cotton dust. The release of histamine causes the tightness,
when the patient returns to the cotton processing work, after the weekend.



Q: Which occupational illness causes an markedly increased risk for Tuberculosis?

A: SILICOSIS...an illness due to quatrz exposure in foundry/glass workers.
The CXR actually shows a miliary(seed/millet) like finding, as in T.B.



Q: Which lung disease of coal miners is associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis?

A: CAPLAN'S Syndrome...a form of pneumoconiosis with a poor prognosis.



Thanks again, we'll be back next week. Feel free to post questions and comments.

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