Fatal Aspiration of Talcum Powder by a Child

Molnar, John J.; Nathenson, Gerald; Edberg, S C

doi:10.1056/nejm196201042660110

Cited by 23 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 2 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…All have been detected in pulmonary arteries and periarterial interstitium in intravenous drug abusers. 7 Aspiration of talc has been reported rarely, mainly in children related to the use of baby powder, 5,14 but aspiration of components of oral medications has not been specifically reported. Kayexalate is a polystyrene sulfonate used in the treatment of hyperkalemia.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pulmonary Disease due to Aspiration of Food and Other Particulate Matter: A Clinicopathologic Study of 59 Cases Diagnosed on Biopsy or Resection Specimens

Mukhopadhyay

Katzenstein

2007

American Journal of Surgical Pathology

126

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aspiration of particulate matter is a well-recognized complication in debilitated patients at autopsy but is not widely recognized in surgical pathology material. We have encountered a surprising number of cases on biopsy or resection specimens, and most were unsuspected clinically and pathologically. This study was undertaken to clarify clinical and pathologic features that facilitate the diagnosis of food/particulate matter aspiration pneumonia. Fifty-nine patients were identified with an average age of 57 (range 26 to 85), and a male/female ratio of 2:1. Common presenting symptoms (information available in 36 cases) included dyspnea (14), fever (9), and cough (6). A history of recurrent pneumonia was present in 9. Radiographic data were available in 34 cases. Bilateral infiltrates or nodules were found in 17 cases, whereas the changes were unilateral in 17. Solitary nodules clinically suspicious for neoplasm were present in 13. Aspiration was suspected clinically in only 4 of the 45 cases in which the clinical impression or differential diagnosis was stated. Predisposing factors for aspiration were identified in 32 patients, including esophageal or gastric causes (19), drug use (10), and neurologic conditions (6). Histologically, bronchiolitis obliterans-organizing pneumonia was present in 52 (88%) cases, usually in combination with multinucleated giant cells, acute bronchopneumonia/bronchiolitis, and/or suppurative granulomas. Foreign material was identified in all cases, including most commonly vegetable or food remnants (54 cases), and less often talc or microcrystalline cellulose (7), crospovidone (4), and kayexalate (2). Particulate matter aspiration pneumonia is a more common cause of lung infiltrates and nodules than generally appreciated. The diagnosis should be suspected when multinucleated giant cells, acute bronchopneumonia/bronchiolitis, and/or suppurative granulomas are found in a background of bronchiolitis obliterans-organizing pneumonia. The presence of foreign material confirms the diagnosis.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pulmonary Disease due to Aspiration of Food and Other Particulate Matter: A Clinicopathologic Study of 59 Cases Diagnosed on Biopsy or Resection Specimens

Mukhopadhyay

Katzenstein

2007

American Journal of Surgical Pathology

126

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The normal use of cosmetic talc in infants has not been reported to be harmful (Food and Cosmetics Toxicology, 1973) although the accidental aspiration of excessive amounts in infants has been reported to cause serious but reversible acute respiratory disease in some instances and death in isolated cases (Cless and Anger, 1954;Molnar, Nathenson, and Edberg, 1962;Jacobziner and Raybin, 1963;Jenkins, 1963;Hughes and Kalmer, 1966;Tortorolo and Romano, 1966;Lund and Feldt-Rasmussen, 1969;Paoli and Brandigi, 1970;Neimann et al, 1971).…”

Section: Cancermentioning

confidence: 99%

The biology of talc.

Hildick‐Smith¹

1976

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

-229. The biology of talc. Data are presented on the effects on health of talc dusts from exposure in industry and use of talc-containing health products. The mineralogy of talc and the composition of cosmetic and industrial grade talc dusts are described. Studies in animals are reviewed, and epidemiological data are considered in relation to exposures that occur during industrial and consumer uses of talc dusts. Hamsters exposed to 8 mg/m3 of respirable cosmetic grade talc dust for up to 150 minutes a day for 300 consecutive days showed no difference in incidence or nature of pathological lesions from those observed in a group of untreated animals. A retrospective study of the causes of death of 227 talc mine millers exposed to cosmetic grade talc at the threshold limit value for talc (20 million parts per cubic foot) for an average of 15 8 years showed that the causes of death were no different from those in a control cohort not exposed to talc dust. The available data indicate that talc dust exposure in the modern mining of cosmetic grade talc does not appear to be injurious to health. The significantly lower dust exposure in the normal use of cosmetic grade talc dusts in talc-containing health and cosmetic products confirms that their use is not a hazard to health.Increasing interest in the impact of environmental influences on health has in recent years focused attention on the significance of pollutants and prompted a reappraisal of environmental mineral dusts that have had extensive long-term use, but on which there is a paucity of correlated scientific data by which to

show abstract

“…Talcosis may follow inhalation of relatively low concentrations of talc dust over a long period or exposure to very high concentrations of the dust over a short time (1,2). In an infant, death occurred within 20 hours of accidental inhalation of talcum powder containing approximately 93% talc (3). Baby powder, consisting mainly of talc powder, is insoluble and, if inhaled in large amounts, dries the tracheobronchial mucous membrane and prevents normal ciliary function.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pulmonary Talc Granulomas, Pulmonary Fibrosis, and Pulmonary Hypertension Resulting from Intravenous Injection of Talc-Containing Drugs Intended for Oral Use

Roberts¹

2002

Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fatal Aspiration of Talcum Powder by a Child

Cited by 23 publications

References 2 publications

Pulmonary Disease due to Aspiration of Food and Other Particulate Matter: A Clinicopathologic Study of 59 Cases Diagnosed on Biopsy or Resection Specimens

Pulmonary Disease due to Aspiration of Food and Other Particulate Matter: A Clinicopathologic Study of 59 Cases Diagnosed on Biopsy or Resection Specimens

The biology of talc.

Pulmonary Talc Granulomas, Pulmonary Fibrosis, and Pulmonary Hypertension Resulting from Intravenous Injection of Talc-Containing Drugs Intended for Oral Use

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About