Lung cancer in a miner with previously reported pneumoconiosis

Overview

In this article, the authors introduce the reader to an interesting patient case report of a patient, a miner who worked in mining for 18 years, who was treated at our Occupational Medicine Clinic of the Pilsen University Hospital for two occupational diseases – pneumoconiosis in a miner was reported as an occupational disease in 1993 and vibration joint and nerve disease was reported a year later. Since 2015, the patient has not attended our regular check-ups according to dispensary regulations. He did not come for an examination until September 2023, when it was discovered that he was being treated for lung cancer from 2020. The article summarizes the etiopathogenesis and diagnosis of pneumoconioses, the issue of criteria for the recognition of these occupational diseases, the number of newly reported occupational diseases in connection with mining, issues related to work in coal mines and exposure to silicon dioxide (SiO₂). The history of mining activity in the vicinity of Pilsen is briefly explained here, specifically from the area of our patient‘s work performance before ending his work in the mines.

Keywords:

lung cancer – occupational disease – coal miner’s pneumoconiosis – mining – silicon dioxide