berylliosis

Etiology

• acute beryllium exposure by inhalation
• chronic beryllium exposure

Epidemiology

• ceramic workers
• beryllium processors
• some aerospace workers
• workers in light bulb or semiconductor factories

Pathology

• acute berylliosis
  • tracheobronchitis
  • chemical pneumonitis
• chronic berylliosis
  • delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction
  • sarcoid-like granulomatous disease

Clinical manifestations

resembles sarcoidosis

Laboratory

beryllium lymphocyte transformation test

Radiology

• resembles sarcoidosis
• chest X-ray:
  • predominantly upper lobe interstitial infiltrates

Differential diagnosis

sarcoidosis

Management

• corticosteroids for symptomatic patients

More general terms

• occupational lung disease
• granulomatous disease

Additional terms

• beryllium [Be]
• sarcoidosis