feldspar and Silicosis

Silica deposition and characteristic nodular silicotic lesions of the bone marrow, virtually unknown features of silicosis, are described in a case of severe lung silicosis with silicotic granulomas of the liver and spleen. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis confirmed the presence of quartz and feld-spars. The bone marrow lesions included inconspicuous accumulations of silica-containing macrophages, free silica, slight lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltration, and reticulin fibre formation; and development of slightly larger partly fibrous silicotic nodules, comparable to those of the lung, liver, and spleen. Silicosis must therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of bone marrow granulomas.

Topics: Aged; Aluminum Silicates; Bone Marrow; Dust; Electron Probe Microanalysis; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Kupffer Cells; Liver; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Minerals; Potassium; Potassium Compounds; Quartz; Silicosis; Spleen; X-Ray Diffraction

Topics: Aluminum Silicates; Blood Protein Electrophoresis; Minerals; Pathology; Potassium Compounds; Pulmonary Fibrosis; Rats; Research; Silicosis; Toxicology

Topics: Aluminum Silicates; Animals; Lung; Potassium Compounds; Quartz; Rats; Silicon Dioxide; Silicosis