Anthracosis of the Lung: Evaluation of Potential Causes

Anthracosis is black pigment discoloration of bronchi whichcan cause bronchial destruction and deformity (anthracofibrosis).a prospective, case-control study was performed to evaluatepotential underlying causes of anthracosis on 190 subjectswho referred for various indications. age of patients rangedfrom 10-85 yrs. 46% of male patients were farmers and 27%were manual workers, whereas 91% of female patients werehousewives. during bronchoscopy, special attention was givento anthracotic plaque, bronchial deformity, infiltration, or vegetation.broncho-alveolar lavage was performed for further cytopathological,acid-fast bacilli staining (afb) and culture in allcases. no correlation between occupational exposure to dustand two kinds of anthracosis (anthracotic plaque and antracofibrosis)was present. in anthracofibrotic patients, 81% were nonsmokers.the principal finding in bronchoscopy was simpleplaque of anthracosis in 21% and anthracofibrosis in 12%. sputumsmear showed macrophages containing anthracotic granulesin 71%. patients with anthracosis had positive histopathologyfor tuberculosis (2] %) that was not significantly differentfrom subjects without anthracosis. of 40 patients with simpleanthracotic plaque and 22 with anthracofibrosis, only two andone patients, respectively were proven to have bronchogeniccarcinoma that was not statistically more common than in thecontrol group. other etiology for anthracofibrosis should beinvest igated.