Silicosis: Diagnosis and Medicolegal Implications

Abstract

Despite well‐publicized sources of occupational hazard, silicosis continues to threaten industrial workers in the United States. We performed a retrospective search of the University of Wisconsin electronic pathology database to retrieve autopsy cases of silicosis and collaborated with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to obtain statewide epidemiologic data regarding silicosis morbidity/mortality since 2003. Three silicosis autopsy cases were retrieved: all were men with ≥ 30 years of occupational crystalline silica exposure and similar histologic features of collagenous pulmonary nodules with admixed refractile particles. Overall, our state exceeds the national rate of silicosis‐related hospitalizations and mortality, that is, 10.1 hospitalizations per million WI residents versus 1.2 nationally and 1.2 deaths per million WI residents versus 0.4 nationally. Surveillance is crucial to identify emerging occupational hazards and protect workers. A diagnosis of silicosis must be carefully considered at autopsy since it carries substantial implications for worker's compensation, compensatory losses, and employer liability.

Epidemiological characteristics and survival analysis on patients with occupational pneumoconiosis in Zhejiang Province from 1987 to 2019

“…Currently, the main treatments include symptomatic and rehabilitation treatments. Patients are being followed up and reexamined regularly, and the treatment plan is adjusted according to the patient's condition (5). In addition, patients are advised to strengthen nutrition, perform physical exercise, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to alleviate symptoms, delay disease progression, prolong survival time, and reduce the incidence of complications.…”

Silicosis en el Paraguay: la amenaza no se ha ido

“…Entre los trabajos estudiados en nuestra revisión resaltamos que el trabajo de Mallorquín et al cita una pequeña serie de necropsias que mostró una peculiar distribución hepato-esplénica de la enfermedad en dos casos a más de los clásicos hallazgos en el parénquima pulmonar y en los ganglios mediastinales. Un marco jurídico que contempla la posibilidad de autopsia ante la sospecha de enfermedades ocupacionales suministra un elemento de juicio invalorable para evaluar la compensación familiar y la responsabilidad del empleador (32,33) .…”

Survival and disease burden analyses of occupational pneumoconiosis during 1958–2021 in Huangshi city, China: a retrospective cohort study

“…Currently, there is no effective treatment for the lung damage caused by pneumoconiosis, and treatment mainly involves symptomatic and rehabilitative care [ 1 ]. As a lifelong occupational disease, pneumoconiosis leads to reduced patient lifespan and workability, causing significant health and economic losses [ 4 ].…”