RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Isolated anthracosis: A benign but little-known cause of bronchial stenosis and obstruction
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P2259
VO 42
IS Suppl 57
A1 Shahram Kahkouee
A1 Ramin Pourghorban
A1 Mahdi Bitarafan
A1 Leila Mosadegh
YR 2013
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P2259.abstract
AB Bronchial anthracosis is defined as black tattoos in mucosal layer possibly due to dust exposure or air pollution. It usually results in bronchial narrowing or obstruction in elderly Asians; thus, may mimic bronchogenic carcinoma.111 patients with proved anthracosis, based on findings in bronchial biopsy specimens, were enrolled. After excluding those with tuberculosis, malignancy, smoking-related lung diseases and chronic bronchitis, CT findings of the remaining 58 patients (female, 29; mean age, 70.2; smoker, 12); designated as isolated anthracosis, were evaluated.We highlighted central peribronchial soft tissue thickening (63.8%), causing bronchial narrowing (63.8%) or obstruction (19%). Bronchial narrowing affected multiple bronchi in some cases (two bronchi, 12 patients; three bronchi, 9 patients; five bronchi, 2 patients) and segmental atelectasis (46.6%), lobar (22.4%) or multilobar (3.4%) collapses were ensued. Findings mostly occurred in the right middle lobe. Air trapping, mosaicism and some other nonspecific findings like scattered parenchymal nodules, nodular infiltration and calcified or non-calcified lymph nodes were also appreciated.Although bronchial narrowing and peribronchial soft tissue thickening may raise the suspicion of malignancy in elderly patients; anthracosis may also be considered, especially in non-smokers when multiple bronchial involvement and other related imaging findings are identified.