clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
These include:
- simple nodular silicosis - usually asymptomatic; there may be nodular shadowing on chest radiograph
- advanced nodular silicosis - usually presents with a cough and exertional dyspnoea; chest radiograph reveals widespread confluent shadowing, thin streaks of calcification are seen around the hilar lymph nodes ('eggshell' calcification); pulmonary function tests - restrictive ventilatory defect and impairment of gas transfer
- silicosis tends to be progressive long after removal from the source of exposure
- the condition may also occur with pulmonary tuberculosis