silicotuberculosis

Introduction

Risk of tuberculosis is increased 4-6 times with silicosis.

Pathology

• Mycobacterium infecting patients with silicosis
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Mycobacterium kansasii
  • Mycobacterium avium complex
• tuberculosis increases mortality in patients with silicosis

Radiology

• chest X-ray
  • difficult to distinguish tuberculosis from silicosis- induced changes

Management

• relapse rate of tuberculosis is high
• antituberculous therapy may need extended period

More general terms

• silicosis
• tuberculosis

More specific terms

• Caplan's syndrome