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Cho, Kim, Yoon, and Koo: A Case of Sarcoidosis in a Stonemason Exposed to Crystalline Silica
Case Report
Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2012; 24(2): 189-194.

Published online: 30 June 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/kjoem.2012.24.2.189

A Case of Sarcoidosis in a Stonemason Exposed to Crystalline Silica

Young-Seung Cho, Kyeong-Yeon Kim, Hyoung-Gyu Yoon1, Jung-Wan Koo

Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

1Department of Internal Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author (jwkoo@catholic.ac.kr)

Received 24 May 2011       Revised 18 April 2012       Accepted 18 April 2012

Copyright © 2012 The Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Abstract

Background

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that can affect any organ, the exact cause of which is uncertain. Currently, investigations of crystalline silica improve the mechanism how it works the course of autoimmune diseases and some hypothesis supports that it also can attribute to sarcoidosis.

Case report

The patient was a 53-year-old male, who works as a stonemason for 30 years. Sarcoidosis was suspected based on his chest X-ray and CT(Computed tomography). A biopsy was performed and he was indeed diagnosed with sarcoidosis.

Conclusion

It is thought that sarcoidosis is more prevalent in the people who work at places with a risk of exposure to crystalline silica. This case suggests that if a patient gets sarcoidosis after being exposed to crystalline silica, or after once being diagnosed with silicosis, his or her sarcoidosis may have occurred due to exposure to crystalline silica.

Keywords: Pneumoconiosis, Silicosis, Sarcoidosis

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