Demographics

Aetiology

exposure to irritants - coal dust, smokers, pollution

Pathophysiology

• carbon in smoke is inert (but pigments lung tissue and LN)
• Silica causes damage

Grades

1. Asymptomatic anthracosis, decreased fibrosis, upper lobe.
2. Simple CWP: + small fibrotic nodules, mild symp.
3. Complicated CWP → Prog. Massive Fibrosis (PMF) → Pulm hypertension, Cor pulmonale & failure.

Clinical Features