A case report of occupational aluminum pneumoconiosis caused by aluminum fluoride dust / 中国职业医学

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of occupational aluminum pneumoconiosis caused by aluminum fluoride dust. METHODS: The clinical data of a case of occupational aluminum pneumoconiosis caused by occupational exposure to aluminum fluoride dust was retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The patient had a clear history of occupational exposure to aluminum fluoride dust for 13 years. The main clinical symptoms were chest tightness, cough and expectoration. High kV posterior and anterior chest X-ray showed that the texture of both lungs was increased and blurred, and multiple small dot-shaped shadows, including round or q-shaped shadows, were seen in the both lung fields and distributed in 6 lung regions. Chest computed tomography showed that the texture of both lungs increased, and multiple small punctate high density lesions were found in both lungs. The pulmonary function examination showed the small airway ventilation dysfunction and the gas diffusion function was reduced. It was diagnosed as occupational aluminum pneumoconiosis stage Ⅱ. CONCLUSION: Aluminum fluoride-induced occupational pneumoconiosis has slow onset and lacks specificity in clinical symptoms. The chest X-ray manifestations are mainly increased pulmonary texture and small round shadows.