Talcum induced pneumoconiosis following inhalation of adulterated marijuana, a case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Talcosis, a granulomatous inflammation of the lungs caused by inhalation of talcum dust, is a rare form of pneumoconiosis. Besides inhalative occupational exposure, intravenous abuse of adulterated drugs is a major cause for this con...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2012-03-01
|
| Series: | Diagnostic Pathology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.diagnosticpathology.org/content/7/1/26 |
| _version_ | 1818551804345974784 |
|---|---|
| author | Scheel Andreas Krause Daniel Haars Helmut Schmitz Inge Junker Klaus |
| author_facet | Scheel Andreas Krause Daniel Haars Helmut Schmitz Inge Junker Klaus |
| author_sort | Scheel Andreas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Talcosis, a granulomatous inflammation of the lungs caused by inhalation of talcum dust, is a rare form of pneumoconiosis. Besides inhalative occupational exposure, intravenous abuse of adulterated drugs is a major cause for this condition. Minerals such as talcum (magnesium silicate) and sand (predominant silicon dioxide) are used to increase both volume and weight of illicit substances. In intravenous heroin-abuse, talcosis is a well-known complication. Here we describe a case of talcosis caused by inhalative abuse of adulterated marijuana.</p> <p>Clinical history</p> <p>A 29-year old man presented with persistent fever, dyspnea and cervical emphysema. He admitted consumption of 'cut' marijuana for several years, preferentially by water pipe smoking.</p> <p>Morphologic findings</p> <p>Lung-biopsies showed chronic interstitial lung disease, anthracotic pigments and birefringent material. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy revealed silicon-containing particles (1-2 μm) and fine aluminum particles (< 1 μm), magnesium and several other elements forming a spectrum compatible with the stated water pipe smoking of talcum-adulterated marijuana.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The exacerbated chronic interstitial lung disease in a 29-year old patient could be attributed to his prolonged abuse of talcum-adulterated marjuana by histopathology and x-ray spectroscopy. Since cannabis consumption is widely spread among young adults, it seems to be justified to raise attention to this form of interstitial pulmonary disease.</p> <p>Virtual slides</p> <p>The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: <url>http://www.diagnomx.eu/vs/krause/html/start.html</url>.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T09:04:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7206bc9881a2411aa11d4e4aaa4bf58a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-1596 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T09:04:46Z |
| publishDate | 2012-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostic Pathology |
| spelling | doaj.art-7206bc9881a2411aa11d4e4aaa4bf58a2022-12-22T00:29:43ZengBMCDiagnostic Pathology1746-15962012-03-01712610.1186/1746-1596-7-26Talcum induced pneumoconiosis following inhalation of adulterated marijuana, a case reportScheel AndreasKrause DanielHaars HelmutSchmitz IngeJunker Klaus<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Talcosis, a granulomatous inflammation of the lungs caused by inhalation of talcum dust, is a rare form of pneumoconiosis. Besides inhalative occupational exposure, intravenous abuse of adulterated drugs is a major cause for this condition. Minerals such as talcum (magnesium silicate) and sand (predominant silicon dioxide) are used to increase both volume and weight of illicit substances. In intravenous heroin-abuse, talcosis is a well-known complication. Here we describe a case of talcosis caused by inhalative abuse of adulterated marijuana.</p> <p>Clinical history</p> <p>A 29-year old man presented with persistent fever, dyspnea and cervical emphysema. He admitted consumption of 'cut' marijuana for several years, preferentially by water pipe smoking.</p> <p>Morphologic findings</p> <p>Lung-biopsies showed chronic interstitial lung disease, anthracotic pigments and birefringent material. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy revealed silicon-containing particles (1-2 μm) and fine aluminum particles (< 1 μm), magnesium and several other elements forming a spectrum compatible with the stated water pipe smoking of talcum-adulterated marijuana.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The exacerbated chronic interstitial lung disease in a 29-year old patient could be attributed to his prolonged abuse of talcum-adulterated marjuana by histopathology and x-ray spectroscopy. Since cannabis consumption is widely spread among young adults, it seems to be justified to raise attention to this form of interstitial pulmonary disease.</p> <p>Virtual slides</p> <p>The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: <url>http://www.diagnomx.eu/vs/krause/html/start.html</url>.</p>http://www.diagnosticpathology.org/content/7/1/26PneumoconiosisTalcosisInterstitial lung diseaseDrug abuseCannabisEnergy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy |
| spellingShingle | Scheel Andreas Krause Daniel Haars Helmut Schmitz Inge Junker Klaus Talcum induced pneumoconiosis following inhalation of adulterated marijuana, a case report Diagnostic Pathology Pneumoconiosis Talcosis Interstitial lung disease Drug abuse Cannabis Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy |
| title | Talcum induced pneumoconiosis following inhalation of adulterated marijuana, a case report |
| title_full | Talcum induced pneumoconiosis following inhalation of adulterated marijuana, a case report |
| title_fullStr | Talcum induced pneumoconiosis following inhalation of adulterated marijuana, a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Talcum induced pneumoconiosis following inhalation of adulterated marijuana, a case report |
| title_short | Talcum induced pneumoconiosis following inhalation of adulterated marijuana, a case report |
| title_sort | talcum induced pneumoconiosis following inhalation of adulterated marijuana a case report |
| topic | Pneumoconiosis Talcosis Interstitial lung disease Drug abuse Cannabis Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy |
| url | http://www.diagnosticpathology.org/content/7/1/26 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT scheelandreas talcuminducedpneumoconiosisfollowinginhalationofadulteratedmarijuanaacasereport AT krausedaniel talcuminducedpneumoconiosisfollowinginhalationofadulteratedmarijuanaacasereport AT haarshelmut talcuminducedpneumoconiosisfollowinginhalationofadulteratedmarijuanaacasereport AT schmitzinge talcuminducedpneumoconiosisfollowinginhalationofadulteratedmarijuanaacasereport AT junkerklaus talcuminducedpneumoconiosisfollowinginhalationofadulteratedmarijuanaacasereport |