Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis Mimicking Lung Cancer in a 75‐Year‐Old Woman With a History of Breast Cancer: A Clinical Case Report
ABSTRACT Pneumoconiosis, caused by inhaling mineral dust, remains a significant occupational disease, despite a declining incidence. Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), a common subtype, varies in presentation from simple to complicated forms. Differential diagnosis is crucial, especially when...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Clinical Case Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.70049 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | ABSTRACT Pneumoconiosis, caused by inhaling mineral dust, remains a significant occupational disease, despite a declining incidence. Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP), a common subtype, varies in presentation from simple to complicated forms. Differential diagnosis is crucial, especially when CWP manifests as lung masses mimicking malignancy. We present a case of CWP in a 75‐year‐old female with a history of breast cancer, initially suspected of lung cancer due to an incidental mass on chest radiography. Clinical examination, laboratory tests, chest tomography, and biopsy were conducted. The patient, with a history of biomass fuel exposure, presented with a left upper lung mass, initially thought to be lung cancer. Biopsy‐induced hemopneumothorax led to intensive care admission. Histopathology confirmed CWP and conservative management resulted in recovery. Imaging revealed a solid mass in the left upper lung with lymphadenopathy. Histopathology showed carbon‐laden macrophages and anthracosis, consistent with CWP. Imaging modalities, including MRI and FDG‐PET/CT, aid in differentiating CWP from cancer. CWP, mimicking lung cancer, underscores the importance of accurate diagnosis. Imaging features, including nodules with calcifications, guide diagnosis. MRI and FDG‐PET/CT offer valuable insights, albeit with limitations, emphasizing the need for judicious use based on clinical suspicion. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2050-0904 |