An unusual radiograph lung finding in a welder – a case study
Authors:
Kadeřábková O.ihash2ihash4ihash6ihash8ihash10 1 1 1 1 2 3
Authors‘ workplace:
Klinika pracovního lékařství, LF UK a FN, Plzeň, přednostka as. MUDr. Vendulka Machartová, Ph. D.
1; Radiodiagnostické oddělení FN Plzeň, přednosta prim. MUDr. Zdeněk Chudáček, Ph. D.
2; Ústav klinické biochemie a hematologie, LF UK a FN, Plzeň, přednosta prof. MUDr. Jaroslav Racek, DrSc.
3
Published in:
Pracov. Lék., 63, 2011, No. 3-4, s. 147-151.
Category:
Case Studies
Overview
Authors present a case study of a 31 year old welder with an unusual radiograph lung finding within the basic diagnosis of asthma bronchiale. The patient was examined for breathing troubles at the outpatient department of the clinic of occupational diseases. The deposits of metal mercury were proved in lungs and in the right heart. The radiograph finding indicated evaluation of the concentration of mercury in blood and urine samples. All samples showed significantly increased concentrations (Hg in blood up to 130 μg/l, Hg in urine up to 420 μg/l). The patient has not shown any signs of chronic mercury intoxication, in the course of the monitored period the clinical and radiograph findings have been stable, the mercury concentration in blood and urine has dropped after 3 years. The patient has not come to the control examination. We learnt from the general practitioner that the patient died due to dilatation cardiomyopathia proved by an autopsy. The etiology of the finding has not been clarified. Presumably it was a lung embolus caused by an i.v. application of mercury. The patient approved an i.v. application of drugs (Pervitin) with the aim of increasing work efficiency.
Key words:
welder, metal mercury, deposits in lungs, mercury in blood, mercury in urine
Sources
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Labels
Hygiene and epidemiology Hyperbaric medicine Occupational medicineArticle was published in
Occupational Medicine
2011 Issue 3-4
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