[Silicotuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE

Tuberculosis is a serious and common complication of silicosis. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological, clinical, radiological and progressive aspects of this pathological entity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study concerns 23 cases of silicotuberculosis which were collected at the service of respiratory diseases at CHU Ibn Rochd of Casablanca, Morocco during 12years (2003-2015).

RESULTS

All patients were men. They were 7 diggers, 5 rock crushers, 7 miners and 4 masons. The mean duration of silica exposure was 11years. The symptomatology was dominated by dyspnea and persistent bronchial syndrome. Imagery showed tumor-like opacities in all cases, associated with mediastinal calcified lymphadenopathy in 9 cases, with micronodules in 8 cases and an excavated opacity in 2 cases. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed by isolation of the Koch's bacillus in sputum in 13% of cases in the bronchial aspirate in 52% and culture in sputum post-bronchoscopy in 13%. The bronchial biopsies confirmed the diagnosis in 2 cases. Tuberculosis had complicated silicosis 9years on average after the cessation of exposure to silica in 65% of cases. The antituberculous treatment was started in all patients with good clinical outcome in 22 cases. We had deplored a case of death by acute respiratory failure.

CONCLUSION

Silicosis increases the risk of tuberculosis, hence the importance of TB screening in all patients with silicosis.