Silica associated systemic sclerosis: an occupational health hazard. 2023

Dhyana S Shivakumar, and Navaneeth Sadananda Kamath, and Anand Naik
General Medicine, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.

A middle-aged male working in the sandblasting and stone-cutting industry was brought to the medicine department with skin tightness, dysphagia and discolouration of the skin for the last 1 year. On examination, he had skin thickening over the face and the extremities with restricted mouth opening. His hands were cold and showed peripheral cyanosis. Systemic examination was suggestive of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, further confirmed by the antinuclear antibody testing. Further, CT of the chest showed mediastinal lymphadenopathy with eggshell calcification and interstitial fibrosis consistent with silicosis and fibrotic non-specific interstitial pneumonitis. The patient was started on pulse monthly cyclophosphamide for six cycles, and steroids were given for 4 weeks and tapered. Tadalafil and amlodipine were given for his pulmonary artery hypertension and Raynaud's phenomenon, respectively. This case also highlights the importance of periodic screening of the workers exposed to silica dust to prevent silicosis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012595 Scleroderma, Systemic A chronic multi-system disorder of CONNECTIVE TISSUE. It is characterized by SCLEROSIS in the SKIN, the LUNGS, the HEART, the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, the KIDNEYS, and the MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM. Other important features include diseased small BLOOD VESSELS and AUTOANTIBODIES. The disorder is named for its most prominent feature (hard skin), and classified into subsets by the extent of skin thickening: LIMITED SCLERODERMA and DIFFUSE SCLERODERMA. Sclerosis, Systemic,Systemic Scleroderma,Systemic Sclerosis
D012822 Silicon Dioxide Transparent, tasteless crystals found in nature as agate, amethyst, chalcedony, cristobalite, flint, sand, QUARTZ, and tridymite. The compound is insoluble in water or acids except hydrofluoric acid. Silica,Aerosil,Aerosil 380,Cristobalite,Quso G-32,Quso G32,Tridymite,380, Aerosil,Dioxide, Silicon,G32, Quso,Quso G 32
D012829 Silicosis A form of pneumoconiosis resulting from inhalation of dust containing crystalline form of SILICON DIOXIDE, usually in the form of quartz. Amorphous silica is relatively nontoxic. Silicoses
D016272 Occupational Health The promotion and maintenance of physical and mental health in the work environment. Employee Health,Industrial Health,Industrial Hygiene,Occupational Safety,Health, Industrial,Hygiene, Industrial,Safety, Occupational,Health, Employee,Health, Occupational
D016273 Occupational Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents that occurs as a result of one's occupation. Exposure, Occupational,Exposures, Occupational,Occupational Exposures
D017563 Lung Diseases, Interstitial A diverse group of lung diseases that affect the lung parenchyma. They are characterized by an initial inflammation of PULMONARY ALVEOLI that extends to the interstitium and beyond leading to diffuse PULMONARY FIBROSIS. Interstitial lung diseases are classified by their etiology (known or unknown causes), and radiological-pathological features. Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease,Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Diseases,Interstitial Lung Disease,Interstitial Lung Diseases,Pneumonia, Interstitial,Pneumonitis, Interstitial,Interstitial Pneumonia,Interstitial Pneumonias,Interstitial Pneumonitides,Interstitial Pneumonitis,Lung Disease, Interstitial,Pneumonias, Interstitial,Pneumonitides, Interstitial

Related Publications

Dhyana S Shivakumar, and Navaneeth Sadananda Kamath, and Anand Naik
January 2016, The Pan African medical journal,
Dhyana S Shivakumar, and Navaneeth Sadananda Kamath, and Anand Naik
December 2020, Rheumatology (Oxford, England),
Dhyana S Shivakumar, and Navaneeth Sadananda Kamath, and Anand Naik
October 2010, Joint bone spine,
Dhyana S Shivakumar, and Navaneeth Sadananda Kamath, and Anand Naik
September 1969, Nursing mirror and midwives journal,
Dhyana S Shivakumar, and Navaneeth Sadananda Kamath, and Anand Naik
August 1973, Occupational health nursing,
Dhyana S Shivakumar, and Navaneeth Sadananda Kamath, and Anand Naik
September 1982, Preventive medicine,
Dhyana S Shivakumar, and Navaneeth Sadananda Kamath, and Anand Naik
April 2000, Australian and New Zealand journal of medicine,
Dhyana S Shivakumar, and Navaneeth Sadananda Kamath, and Anand Naik
October 2000, Annals of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons,
Dhyana S Shivakumar, and Navaneeth Sadananda Kamath, and Anand Naik
December 1990, The British journal of dermatology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!