A solitary anthracotic lower lobe lung mass mimicking lung malignancy: an unusual presentation

Abstract

Abstract Pneumoconiosis in coal workers is seen as small nodular aggregations of anthracotic macrophages in the collagen network, which are known as coal macules, with larger aggregations known as coal nodules/mass with or without fibrosis. These are usually seen around the initial site of coal dust accumulation that is the upper regions around respiratory bronchioles; however, in our case the anthracotic mass is present in the anterior basal segment of the lower lobe of the left lung. Although coal workers’ pneumoconiosis is a form of pneumoconiosis that is a common affliction of coal workers and/or chronic smokers. In our patient, prior exposure to biomass fuel exhaust seems to be the only risk factor. We present the case of an 80-year-old man presenting with fever and cough of 4 months’ duration. On evaluation, he was found to have a well-defined mass lesion in the anterior basal segment of the lower lobe of the left lung, which on core biopsy revealed features consistent with an anthracotic mass.

Keywords

• anthracotic mass
• coal workers’ pneumoconiosis
• lower lobe lung