An unusual cause of difficult asthma: talc granulomatous disease

Specialty: Respiratory Medicine; Occupational Medicine

Article Type: Case Report

DOI: 10.1102/1470-5206.2005.0001

Vol 5

pages 1-3

An unusual cause of difficult asthma: talc granulomatous disease

A. R. L. Medford, M. N. Sheppard, A. G. Nicholson, D. M. Geddes and G. D. Phillips

Correspondence Address: Andrew R L Medford, Clinical Research Fellow, Currently at Lung Research Group, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Southmead Hospital, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK. Tel.: 44 1179595348; Fax: 44 1179595018.

Email: andrew.medford@bristol.ac.uk

A 44-year-old woman presented with poorly controlled asthma and nodular radiological changes. A VATS lung biopsy confirmed talc granulomatous disease possibly related to her previous work as a dental technician. A detailed occupational history is mandatory. Talc granulomatous disease is one important alternative diagnosis in poorly controlled asthma.

Keywords Talc granulomatous disease; asthma; occupational history

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Editor-in-Chief

Frank Cross

Consultant Surgeon

St. Bartholomew's and The London NHS Trust, UK

Editors

Neil Barnes

Consultant Physician

St. Bartholomew's and The London NHS Trust, UK

Ali Jawad

Consultant Rheumatologist

St. Bartholomew's and The London NHS Trust, UK