A case of lung adenocarcinoma complicated by pulmonary talcosis occurring in a patient employed in the confectionery industry. Issue 4 (18th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kobayashi, Kazuhiro; Watanabe, Naoki; Oka, Teruaki; Tomita, Hiroyuki; Suzui, Natsuko; Oumi, Yasunori; Hara, Akira; Miyazaki, Tatsuhiko
• Is Part Of: Pathology international. Volume 69:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 229
• Page End: 234
• Publication Date: 2019-02-18
• Subjects: adenocarcinoma of lung -- occupational disease -- talc; Pathology -- Periodicals; 616.07
• DOI: 10.1111/pin.12772
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1320-5463

Abstract

Abstract : A 73‐year‐old Japanese man, who worked at a confectionery company for more than 20 years, was diagnosed with a 28 mm nodular lesion in the superior lobe of the right lung by whole‐body computed tomography examination. A biopsy revealed the presence of adenocarcinoma. With a diagnosis of a primary lung cancer, a right upper lobectomy was performed. A nodular lesion, 25 × 23 mm in size, was observed in the upper right lobe lung field, and was diagnosed histopathologically as a papillary adenocarcinoma. In addition, fibrous scars in the central part of the tumor showed numerous Langhans and/or foreign body giant cells, and histiocytic cells that had phagocytized numerous small transparent crystals, together with coal powder deposition. The extracted crystals were observed with a scanning electron microscope, and although plate‐like structures were observed, ferruginous bodies suggestive of asbestos were not found. The crystals were demonstrated to be talc by powder X‐ray diffraction. Herein, we investigated a case of lung adenocarcinoma in a patient with talcosis, with discussions based on a literature search. This collision of talcosis and lung adenocarcinoma adds to an increasing body of knowledge on an apparent association between talc and cancer cases.