Silicosis with progressive massive fibrosis

Case contributed by Bruno Di Muzio
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Progressive shortness of breath.

Patient Data

Age: 45 years
Gender: Male

Chest radiographs

x-ray

Both lungs show reticulonodular confluent opacities within the mid and upper zones and some degree of volume loss. Obliteration of the paratracheal stripes inferring mediastinal lymphadenopathy. No pleural effusions.

There is lung parenchyma distortion characterized by confluent reticulation giving a mass-like appearance in the upper lobes. Also, the remainder of the lungs has a mosaic pattern of attenuation with centrilobular groundglass opacities and reticulation. Mediastinal lymphadenopathy with a subcarinal lymph node showing peripheral calcifications. 

Case Discussion

This patient previously worked as a stone mason for a long period of time. The imaging features are those of progressive massive fibrosis and, in this clinical setting, most likely due to silicosis

He was then further submitted to a single lung transplant and the resected right native lung was assessed histologically: 

Macroscopy: Right native lung weighing 696 g measuring 190 x 181 x 87 mm. Pleura appears grey/tan with roughened texture and patchy areas of hemorrhage. Bronchovascular resection margins are clear. Hilar lymph nodes appear carbon pigmented. On sectioning within all lobes, there are central areas of pale tan fibrosis intermixed with black pigmentation. There is some sparing of the parenchyma at the base of the lower lobe and periphery of the upper and middle lobes. No solid lesions are identified. No thrombi are identified.

Microscopy: Sections from all lobes show marked distortion of the alveolar architecture by interstitial fibrosis including prominent coalescing nodules of hyalinised tissue containing polarisable flecks of silica. There is relative sparing of the more peripheral and subpleural zones, as well as the lower lobe,  where there is a preservation of the alveolar architecture with only mild interstitial expansion with a mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrate. No well-formed granulomas are seen. Thromboemboli are not identified. No hyaline membranes are present. No viral inclusions are seen.

Hilar lymph nodes also show parenchymal nodular silicosis. There is no evidence of malignancy.

Diagnostic Opinion: Right native lung, explant: Nodal and parenchymal silicosis with severe interstitial fibrosis.

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