Biomaterial Database

[A case of interstitial pneumonitis caused by inhalation of cadmium fumes]. 1994

S Inoue, and Y Suzumura, and K Takahashi

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Minami-Kyoto Hospital of National Sanatorium, Japan.

A 48-year-old man who had been a welder for 25 years was admitted to our hospital on February 18, 1990 for investigation of a diffuse bilateral lung shadow that had a ground-glass appearance. On the day of admission, he had been welding copper water supply pipe and used silver brazing with an oxyacetylene torch. After almost 7 hours of work, he had a chill, high fever, and dyspnea. Blood gas analysis revealed severe hypoxemia (PaO2 34.5 Torr, PaCO2 29.4 Torr). The level of copper in serum was slightly higher than normal (174 micrograms/dl). A transbronchial lung biopsy specimen showed lymphocyte infiltration and fibrous changes of the alveolar walls, which seemed to be granulomatous pneumonitis. Steroid therapy was effective against the symptoms, and the radiographic findings also improved. We think this is a rare case of interstitial pneumonitis caused by inhalation of cadmium fumes contained in silver brazing.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009784	Occupational Diseases	Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment.	Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D002104	Cadmium	An element with atomic symbol Cd, atomic number 48, and atomic weight 112.41. It is a metal and ingestion will lead to CADMIUM POISONING.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000280	Administration, Inhalation	The administration of drugs by the respiratory route. It includes insufflation into the respiratory tract.	Drug Administration, Inhalation,Drug Administration, Respiratory,Drug Aerosol Therapy,Inhalation Drug Administration,Inhalation of Drugs,Respiratory Drug Administration,Aerosol Drug Therapy,Aerosol Therapy, Drug,Drug Therapy, Aerosol,Inhalation Administration,Administration, Inhalation Drug,Administration, Respiratory Drug,Therapy, Aerosol Drug,Therapy, Drug Aerosol
D014896	Welding	Joining metal pieces or parts together by melting the adjoining surfaces with heat, using a heat source such as a blowtorch or electric arc. The melted surfaces are then pressed together by hammering.
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