Interstitial lung granulomas as a possible consequence of exposure to zirconium dust
Romeo, L.; Cazzadori, A.; Bontempini, L.; Martini, S.
La Medicina del Lavoro 85(3): 219-222
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7818 PMID: 7935143 Document Number: 435838
A case of interstitial lung granulomas is described in a worker exposed to zirconium compounds. Chest X-rays revealed diffuse slight reticular interstitial radio-opacities (ILO classification, 1/0 s/t). Histological examination of transbronchial biopsy tissue revealed small interstitial nonconfluent granulomas with epithelioid and giant cells showing no central necrosis, with PAS-positive diastase-resistant small weakly birefringent particles in interstitial histiocytes. These histological and stain findings, which are characteristic of zirconium skin lesions and granulomas, suggest zirconium interstitial lung disease.