Abstract

Summary
Background: Stannosis is a disease of dust deposited pulmonary parenchyma via inhalation. Dusts contain tin-oxide (stannic oxide=SnO2) which makes a kind of non-fibrosing pneumoconiosis. Exposure to tin fume, cause the same disease. Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is very often seen in inorganic dust exposed workers such as coal workers pneumoconiosis due to the heavy dust burden in
macrophage cytoplasm and impaired function.
Case Report: A 55-year-old man presented with dyspnea, cough, sputum and night sweating for about four years. He has been treated with antibiotics and bronchodilators without apparent response in
other health centers. He had worked as a tinner for 30 years, and had never smoked. He met the exposure and diagnostic criteria for stannosis. Restrictive pulmonary function abnormality was detected. BAL fluid differential cytology revealed neutrophilic alveolitis supporting pneumoconiosis. Thorax computed tomogram revealed honey combing appearance. According to ILO classification he was assessed as q1/2. Acid-fast bacilli grew on culture of sputum and bronchial lavage. Antituberculous treatment with four drugs was commenced.
Conclusions: It is well known that, tuberculosis is seen very often in pneumoconiosis, i.e. silicosis or coal workers pneumoconiosis. However, it has never been mentioned in the literature that stannosis can also lead pulmonary tuberculosis. We conclude that, tuberculosis can be seen in patients with pneumoconiosis, including stannosis.

Keywords: Stannosis, tin oxide, Tuberculosis, Pneumoconiosis