Chalicosis

WikiDoc Resources for Chalicosis
Articles
Most recent articles on Chalicosis Most cited articles on Chalicosis Review articles on Chalicosis Articles on Chalicosis in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Chalicosis Images of Chalicosis Photos of Chalicosis Podcasts & MP3s on Chalicosis Videos on Chalicosis
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Chalicosis Bandolier on Chalicosis TRIP on Chalicosis
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Chalicosis at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Chalicosis Clinical Trials on Chalicosis at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Chalicosis NICE Guidance on Chalicosis NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Chalicosis CDC on Chalicosis
Books
Books on Chalicosis
News
Chalicosis in the news Be alerted to news on Chalicosis News trends on Chalicosis
Commentary
Blogs on Chalicosis
Definitions
Definitions of Chalicosis
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Chalicosis Discussion groups on Chalicosis Patient Handouts on Chalicosis Directions to Hospitals Treating Chalicosis Risk calculators and risk factors for Chalicosis
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Chalicosis Causes & Risk Factors for Chalicosis Diagnostic studies for Chalicosis Treatment of Chalicosis
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Chalicosis
International
Chalicosis en Espanol Chalicosis en Francais
Business
Chalicosis in the Marketplace Patents on Chalicosis
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Chalicosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Synonyms and keywords: Flint disease

Overview

Chalicosis (Greek, χάλιξ, gravel), also called Flint disease, is a disorder of the lungs or bronchioles (chiefly among stonecutters), due to the inhalation of fine particles of stones; it is a form of pneumoconiosis.

Historical Perspective

• The term chalicosis was first introduced by Merkel in 1870, for pneumoconiosis cases caused due to fine gravel or stone.
• Chalicosis is seen mostly in stonecutters.

Pathophysiology

The ciliated epithelium in the lungs, along with mucus secretions and phagocytes protect the airways from dust. When there is exposure to excessive dust, the epithelium is unable to arrest all the pigment, resulting in it's leakage into subpleaural and interbronchial tissues; and interspaces of alveoli. This results in an inflammatory response and release of tumor necrosis factors, interleukin-1, leukotriene B4 and other cytokines resulting in activation of fibroblasts to proliferate and produce collagen around the dust particle; which causes fibrosis and nodular lesions in the lungs.

Associated Conditions

• Hepatosplenic involvement is not uncommon with chalicosis.

Causes

• Inhalation of fine particles of stones.

Differentiating type page name here from other Diseases

• Should be differentiated from other diseases causing pneumoconiosis and those with similar presentation including: cough, dyspnea, pulmonary nodules and fibrosis on chest x-ray
• Silicosis
• asbestosis
• tuberculosis
• aspergillosis
• pulmonary malignancy.

Risk Factors

• Occupations with excessive exposure to stone dust like excavations in mines, mining of nonferrous metal ores, tunnels, quarries, underground galleries, dry cutting, grinding, sieving and manipulation of minerals and rock, foundry work, milling work, sandblasting and grinding, pottery industry.

Natural History

Chalicosis is a slowly progressive disease where it can take upto 10 years for the manifestations to occur.

References

• Dorland's Medical Dictionary (1938)
• Pneumoconiosis by A Meiklejohn
• Pulmonary Fibrosis, Clifford R. Orr and William F. Jacobs, Radiology 1926 7:4, 318-325
• Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017, A. Zimmermann, Tumors and Tumor-Like Lesions of the Hepatobiliary Tract, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-26956-6_123
• Silicosis and Other Health Problems of Metal Miners , WALDEMAR C. DREESSEN, M.D., RICHARD T. PAGE, F.A.P.H.A., AND HUGH P. BRINTON, PH.D.,