Respiratory · UKMLA & AKT
Coal worker's pneumoconiosis
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise coal worker's pneumoconiosis — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- Caused by prolonged inhalation of coal dust (typically >10-20 years of mining) → upper zone fibrosis
- Progressive exertional dyspnoea - insidious onset over years
- Dry cough - chronic, non-productive in simple CWP
- Simple CWP may be asymptomatic - found incidentally on CXR
- PMF (progressive massive fibrosis) - nodules coalesce into large masses (>1 cm); causes significant breathlessness and cor pulmonale
CWP does NOT cause pleural plaques - these point to asbestosis. CWP does NOT cause eggshell hilar calcification - this points to silicosis.
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