Pulmonary talco-silicosis in a balloon making industry worker

We report a case of a thirty eight year old lady,working in balloon making industry. she was referred to us in view of incidental chest x-ray changes found during preoperative pulmonary evaluation. she was asymptomatic from respiratory point of view. chest x-ray was suggestive of bilateral reticulonodular opacities. hrct thorax revealed interstitial lung disease. spirometry was suggestive of restrictive abnormality. subsequently the powder which patient used to instill in balloon before inflating was brought for analysis which revealed 32.73% silica. hence diagnosis of talco-silicosis was made,in the absence of any other cause for lung involvement. © journal of krishna institute of medical sciences university.