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Study Objectives: To evaluate the clinical, radiological and bronchoscopic features of 27 patients with anthracostenosis.
Design: All patients with anthracostenosis determined by bronchoscopic examinations between 2002 and 2005 were considered in this retrospective study. Anthracostenosis was defined as anthracotic pigment deposition and the narrowing of one or more bronchial orifice in cases with no history of smoking or occupational exposure to dust.
Results: Of the 27 patients, 25 were female and two male. The mean age was 66.8 (53-77) years. The 27 patients who were exposed to biomass fuel had a mean exposure of 39.3 (10-70) years. With one exception, all cases had abnormal radiological findings in their posteroanterior chest x-rays. The most frequent thorax CT finding was segmental or subsegmental atelectasis (n=20, 74.1%). Histopathologic examinations revealed anthracosis in 13 cases, inflammatory cell deposition in 10 and granulomatous inflammation in two. Active tuberculosis was detected in 7 cases (25.9%). No malignancy was found in any of the patients.
Conclusions: Bronchial anthracostenosis is a clinical presentation caused by biomass exposure and is encountered most commonly in older females. Nationwide measures should be taken to prevent biomass fuel pollution.