Bronchial Anthracosis-Anthracofibrosis: Potential Causes and Clinical Features

Abstract

Objective: Anthracosis is black pigment discoloration of bronchi. It can cause anthracofibrosis by making bronchial destruction and deformity. In this study, we aimed to determine potential underlying causes of the patients with anthracosis-anthracofibrosis and their clinical features. Material-Method: This is a retrospective cohort study. From January 2002 to December 2012, 109 patients, having bronchial anthracosis-anthracofibrosis confirmed by a bronchoscopy, included in this study. Potential causes and the clinical features were investigated through the analysis of medical records. Result(s): There were 52 males (47.7%) and 57 females (52.3%), having a mean age of 67.8 (+/-9.8). We detected 60.6% of the patients had biomass exposure, 34.9% had smoking history and 4.5% had occupational exposure. In bronchoscopy, there were 34 patients with anthracosis and 75 patients with anthracofibrosis. The most effected localizations in bronchoscopy were right upper lobe (69.7%) and left upper lobe (67.9%). Cough (58.7%) and dyspnea (49.5%) were most common presenting symptoms, followed by chest pain (36.7%). In radiological evaluation, atelectasis (65.1%) and consolidation (55%) were most common findings. Associated diseases were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 46.8% of patients, pneumonia in 24.8%, active tuberculosis in 18.3%, and malignancy in 10.1%. Conclusion(s): Biomass exposure is the most important risk factor for the patients with bronchial anthracosis-anthracofibrosis. These patients should be evaluated and followed up in terms of various pulmonary diseases including COPD, pneumonia, tuberculosis and malignancy.