Lung silicosis. Coloured X-ray of the lungs of a patient with silicosis, a type of pneumoconiosis. The light blue grainy masses in the lungs are areas

---

Lung silicosis. Coloured X-ray of the lungs of a patient with silicosis, a type of pneumoconiosis. The light blue grainy masses in the lungs are areas of fibrous (scarred) tissue and inflammation. This is a severe case, with conglomerated masses of fibrous tissue. Silicosis is caused by the inhalation of silica dust particles, and is therefore most prevalent in people working in the mining and quarrying industries. Symptoms include breathlessness and a chronic cough. Sufferers also have a high risk of developing tuberculosis. There is no cure for silicosis, treatment is aimed at reducing the symptoms.

---

Size: 3402px × 3969px
Photo credit: © ZEPHYR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -ray, adult, body, chest, coloured, condition, conglomerated, disease, disorder, dust, false-colour, false-coloured, fibrous, human, illness, industrial, industry, inflamed, inflammation, lung, lungs, machine, mass, masses, medical, medicine, occupational, particles, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary, radiography, respiratory, scarred, scarring, severe, silica, silicosis, xray