Chest ImagingTalcosis
various types of
pulmonary disease related to exposure to talc.
Pure talc is a hydrated magnesium silicate, but commercial talcs have varying purities, with the most significant possible impurities consisting of quartz or tremolite (an amphibole asbestos). Talc has numerous applications in industry (e.g. rubber, paint, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry), but it is also widely used in health and personal care.
Exposure to low-grade talc may give rise to talcosilicosis or talcoasbestosis, in which cases the disease will exhibit the features of silicosis or asbestosis, respectively. Talcosis may also present as a granulomatous pneumonitis and give rise to a radiological appearance of sarcoidosis or miliary tuberculosis. Such foreign body granulomas are seen especially (but not only) in intravenous drug addicts as result of the injection of crushed talc-containing tablets. Talc pneumoconiosis may also present as diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, which may or may not be asbestosis.
JV