BERYLLIUM DISEASE: A CONTINUING DIAGNOSTIC PROBLEM

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1961 · Transactions of the Association of American Physicians (U.S.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00000441-196108000-00002· OSTI ID:4629127

Hardy, H L

BS>Problems encountered in the diagnosis of chronic Be intoxication are discussed with reference to three cases in particular and to a survey of 850 other cases. Its diagnosis may be difficult because its clinical character is very like other diseases, notably sarcoidosis and miliary tuberculosis, plus the vast array of diseases presenting miliary densities on chest x-ray with and without such non-specific symptoms as dyspnea and cough. In addition, there may be a delay in onset between illness and the last exposure to toxic Be compounds varying in time to as long as 5 to 10 yr and in a few cases longer. Chronic Be disease presents a wide spectrum of clinical pictures. A few patients, followed for several years, continue to show only bilateral chest x-ray changes, while others with mild to moderate disability, complaining of cough, dyspnea, and weakness, have varying degrees of diffusion defect with resulting oxygen unsaturation. Others, completely disabled with obvious serious lung destruction, enlargement of liver and spleen, and stone formation, go through bouts of fever, and remain dependent on steroids and oxygen therapy for existence. This chronic poisoning is a disease of long course with remissions and exacerbations. The three cited cases illustrate that diagnosis rests primarily on establishing exposure to toxic Be compounds. A Be patch test is an aid to diagnosis, but there is no agreement that a negative test rules out Be poisoning. In addition, there is some evidence that use or such a test may exacerbate the toxic Be effect. Differential diagnosis between Be disease and sarcoidosis, the most difficult diagnostic problem, rests on the establishment of Be exposure. (BBB)

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-038730
• OSTI ID: 4629127
• Journal Information: Transactions of the Association of American Physicians (U.S.), Journal Name: Transactions of the Association of American Physicians (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 74; ISSN TAAPA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BERYLLIUM
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
DIAGNOSIS
DISEASES
INFECTIONS
LIVER
LUNGS
MAN
OXYGEN
RADIOGRAPHY
SARCOIDOSIS
SPLEEN
STEROIDS
TOXICITY
TUBERCULOSIS
TUMORS
X RADIATION