EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Case Report Volume 6 Issue 7 - 2023

Diagnostic Assessment Score of Pulmonary Anthracosis: Review

Cuneyt Tetikkurt*, Nejdiye Güngördü, Mert Savcı and Enes Furkan

Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey

*Corresponding Author: Cuneyt Tetikkurt, Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey.
Received: June 14, 2023; Published: June 30, 2023



Anthracosis is superficial black discoloration of bronchial mucosa resulting from repeated exposure to air pollution, inhalation of smoke, or coal dust that is caused by the accumulation of carbon in the lungs. Biomass incurrence or vulnerability emerges as the most common etiologic factor. Diagnosis is usually reached by bronchoscopic examination in patients with compatible findings while identification of anthracosis may lead to a challenge in regard to differential diagnosis from malignancy, chronic obstructive lung disease, tuberculosis, or fungal infection.

We present three cases of pulmonary anthracosis to discuss the clinical, radiologic, and bronchoscopic findings that may usually lead to a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. We set forth an assessment score analysis to reach a final accurate clinical diagnosis. The primary aim is to put forward a diagnostic algorithm analysis based on clinical, bronchoscopic, radiologic, and nuclear imaging manifestations for anthracosis identification based on our three cases along with the current literature data. This score analysis does not only provide a definitive diagnosis, but also ensures the most appropriate diagnostic pathway for clinicians in suspected cases.

Keywords: Pulmonary Anthracosis; CT; Bronchoscopy; Pathology

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Cuneyt Tetikkurt., et al. "Diagnostic Assessment Score of Pulmonary Anthracosis: Review." EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports   6.7 (2023): 41-48.