acute silicoproteinosis

Acute Silicosis

A complication of intense exposure to respirable crystalline silica, associated with sandblasting, coal mining, or any other job in which there is heavy exposure to fine particulate silica. Unlike classic silicosis, acute silicosis appears within a few weeks to 5 years of initial exposure. 
Occupations Abrasive (sand) blasting, mining, quarrying, manufacture of abrasives—including abrasive soaps, tunnelling, foundry work, glass manufacture, ceramic and pottery production, and cement and concrete production.
Clinical findings Rapid onset of severe respiratory impairment, dyspnoea, cough, weakness, weight loss, often leading to death.
Imaging, chest Multifocal ground glass appearance and air space consolidation.
DiffDx Pneumonia, pulmonary oedema, alveolar haemorrhage, bronchioloalveolar cell cancer.

acute silicoproteinosis

Pulmonology A rare, fulminant respiratory complication of intense exposure to respirable silica, usually in the context of sandblasting, coal mining, or any other job in which there is heavy exposure to fine particulate silica; in contrast to classic silicosis, AS appears within 6 months to 3 yrs of initial exposure and leads to severe respiratory impairment, death Imaging–CXR Multifocal ground glass appearance and air space consolidation. Cf Coal workers' pneumoconiosis.