Pathological observation of progressive massive fibrosis in autophy frompatients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the pathological features of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) in the lung tissues of patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was made on the autopsies from 8 patients with CWP, which were observed under a microscope by HE staining, given their occupational history.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The age of 8 cases ranged 47-71 years (mean, 59.9 years), and their dust exposure time was 18-32 years (mean, 25.1 years). All the 8 cases were complicated by chronic bronchitis as well as emphysema, 7 cases by pulmonary heart disease, and 4 cases by pulmonary tuberculosis. In this group of patients, PMF was mainly distributed in the hilum and the upper lobe of the lung, including 7 cases of nodular fusion type and 1 case of PMF type. The collagen fibers around PMF extended radially and destroyed its surrounding tissue.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Nodular fusion type is the main form of PMF in the lung tissues of CWP patients. It has a progressive and destructive process, which is the manifestation of advanced CWP.</p>

The pathological observation of lung's draining lymph node on 12 autopsy with coal workers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the pathological characteristics of draining pulmonary lymph nodes in coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) and study their significance for the early diagnosis of CWP.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The autopsy materials of 12 coal workers were subjected to HE staining and observed under a light microscope, and a retrospective analysis was performed considering the occupational history.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The age range of 12 cases was 46∼71 years (mean, 58 years), and the exposure time range was 3∼32 years (mean, 22.8 years). The draining pulmonary lymph nodes of 1 case with dust reaction mostly had coal dust deposition, mild pulmonary fibrosis, and local dust fibrosis in the medullary sinus; 1 case of stage I anthracosilicosis mainly showed extensive dust fibrosis and coal dust deposition; 8 cases of stage II anthracosilicosis mainly showed dust fibrosis and silicotic nodules; 1 case of stage III anthracosilicosis and 1 case of stage III silicosis mainly showed silicotic nodules' fusion with each other, and lymph nodes' adhesion and formation of massive fibrosis, and the formation of silicotic nodules was especially obvious in cases of stage III silicosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The dust lesions of draining pulmonary lymph nodes become severer with higher severity of pulmonary lesions in cases of CWP. The cases of simple silicosis have earlier and severer lesions in draining pulmonary lymph nodes than in lung tissue.</p>