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Rare earth (cerium oxide) pneumoconiosis: analytical scanning electron microscopy and literature review.

Publication ,  Journal Article
McDonald, JW; Ghio, AJ; Sheehan, CE; Bernhardt, PF; Roggli, VL
Published in: Mod Pathol
October 1995

Rare earth pneumoconiosis is an uncommonly reported disease caused by the inhalation of dust containing lanthanides, also known as rare earth metals, which are common industrial materials. The pathologic manifestations and natural history of this disorder are incompletely understood. We describe a male patient with a 35-year history of optical lens grinding, an occupation associated with exposure to cerium oxide, a rare earth metal-containing compound. The patient presented with progressive dyspnea and an interstitial pattern on chest X-ray; open lung biopsy showed interstitial fibrosis histologically indistinguishable from usual interstitial pneumonitis. However, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis demonstrated numerous particulate deposits in the lung, of which the majority contained the rare earth metal cerium alone or in combination with other elements. Our case is one of the first to describe rare earth pneumoconiosis associated with pulmonary fibrosis in the occupational setting of optical lens manufacture. Besides reinforcing the contention that rare earth metals are potentially harmful, our case suggests that such agents may be causally related to the development of pulmonary fibrosis.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Mod Pathol

ISSN

0893-3952

Publication Date

October 1995

Volume

8

Issue

8

Start / End Page

859 / 865

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Radiography
  • Pneumoconiosis
  • Pathology
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Cerium
  • Aged
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences
 

Citation

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McDonald, J. W., Ghio, A. J., Sheehan, C. E., Bernhardt, P. F., & Roggli, V. L. (1995). Rare earth (cerium oxide) pneumoconiosis: analytical scanning electron microscopy and literature review. Mod Pathol, 8(8), 859–865.
McDonald, J. W., A. J. Ghio, C. E. Sheehan, P. F. Bernhardt, and V. L. Roggli. “Rare earth (cerium oxide) pneumoconiosis: analytical scanning electron microscopy and literature review.Mod Pathol 8, no. 8 (October 1995): 859–65.
McDonald JW, Ghio AJ, Sheehan CE, Bernhardt PF, Roggli VL. Rare earth (cerium oxide) pneumoconiosis: analytical scanning electron microscopy and literature review. Mod Pathol. 1995 Oct;8(8):859–65.
McDonald, J. W., et al. “Rare earth (cerium oxide) pneumoconiosis: analytical scanning electron microscopy and literature review.Mod Pathol, vol. 8, no. 8, Oct. 1995, pp. 859–65.
McDonald JW, Ghio AJ, Sheehan CE, Bernhardt PF, Roggli VL. Rare earth (cerium oxide) pneumoconiosis: analytical scanning electron microscopy and literature review. Mod Pathol. 1995 Oct;8(8):859–865.

Published In

Mod Pathol

ISSN

0893-3952

Publication Date

October 1995

Volume

8

Issue

8

Start / End Page

859 / 865

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Radiography
  • Pneumoconiosis
  • Pathology
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Cerium
  • Aged
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences