TY - JOUR T1 - Isolated anthracosis: A benign but little-known cause of bronchial stenosis and obstruction JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P2259 AU - Shahram Kahkouee AU - Ramin Pourghorban AU - Mahdi Bitarafan AU - Leila Mosadegh Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P2259.abstract N2 - 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. ER -