Institute of Pathology, Klinikum Bremen-Mitte, Bremen, Germany.
Diagn Pathol. 2012 Mar 15;7:26. doi: 10.1186/1746-1596-7-26.
Talcosis, a granulomatous inflammation of the lungs caused by inhalation of talcum dust, is a rare form of pneumoconiosis. Besides inhalative occupational exposure, intravenous abuse of adulterated drugs is a major cause for this condition. Minerals such as talcum (magnesium silicate) and sand (predominant silicon dioxide) are used to increase both volume and weight of illicit substances. In intravenous heroin-abuse, talcosis is a well-known complication. Here we describe a case of talcosis caused by inhalative abuse of adulterated marijuana.
A 29-year old man presented with persistent fever, dyspnea and cervical emphysema. He admitted consumption of 'cut' marijuana for several years, preferentially by water pipe smoking.
Lung-biopsies showed chronic interstitial lung disease, anthracotic pigments and birefringent material. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy revealed silicon-containing particles (1-2 μm) and fine aluminum particles (< 1 μm), magnesium and several other elements forming a spectrum compatible with the stated water pipe smoking of talcum-adulterated marijuana.
The exacerbated chronic interstitial lung disease in a 29-year old patient could be attributed to his prolonged abuse of talcum-adulterated marjuana by histopathology and x-ray spectroscopy. Since cannabis consumption is widely spread among young adults, it seems to be justified to raise attention to this form of interstitial pulmonary disease.
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滑石沉着症是一种由吸入滑石粉尘引起的肺部肉芽肿性炎症，是一种罕见的尘肺病。除了吸入性职业暴露外，静脉滥用掺杂物也是导致这种情况的主要原因。滑石（硅酸镁）和沙子（主要是二氧化硅）等矿物质被用于增加非法物质的体积和重量。在静脉注射海洛因滥用中，滑石沉着症是一种已知的并发症。在这里，我们描述了一例由吸入性滥用掺杂物大麻引起的滑石沉着症。
一名 29 岁男性因持续性发热、呼吸困难和颈气肿就诊。他承认吸食“掺假”大麻已有数年，主要通过水烟管吸食。
肺活检显示慢性间质性肺病、炭末沉着和双折射物质。能量色散 X 射线光谱显示含有硅的颗粒（1-2μm）和细小的铝颗粒（<1μm）、镁和其他几种元素形成与所报告的吸食掺有滑石粉的大麻的水烟管相兼容的光谱。
这位 29 岁患者的慢性间质性肺病恶化可归因于他长期滥用掺有滑石粉的大麻，这可通过组织病理学和 X 射线光谱来证实。由于大麻的消费在年轻人中广泛存在，因此有理由引起对这种形式的间质性肺病的关注。
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