Occupational lung disease pathophysiology
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Overview
Pathogenesis
Coal dust that enters the lungs can neither be destroyed nor removed by the body. The particles are engulfed by resident alveolar or interstitial macrophages and remain in the lungs, residing in the connective tissue or pulmonary lymph nodes. Aggregations of carbon-laden macrophages can be visualized under a microscope as granular, black areas. In serious cases, the lung may grossly appear black. These aggregations can cause inflammation and fibrosis, as well as the formation of nodular legions within the lungs. The centres of dense legions may become necrotic due to ischaemia, leading to large cavities within the lung.