suberosis; corkhandler disease; corkworker lung

Etiology

• Penicillium glabrum from exposure to moldy cork dust
• Chrysonilia sitophilia, Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucor macedo & uncontaminated cork dust may also play a role

Pathology

• lymphocytic alveolitis

Clinical manifestations

• asthma-like syndrome
• extrinsic allergic alveolitis
• chronic bronchitis with bronchiectasis

Laboratory

• lung biopsy
  • cork dust within lesions
• scalene node biopsy

Diagnostic procedures

• pulmonary function testing
  • restrictive lung disease
• bronchoalveolar lavage

Radiology

• chest X-ray may be normal
• computed tomography of the thorax
  • ground glass opacities

More general terms

• occupational lung disease
• hypersensitivity pneumonitis