Baritosis
Baritosis
Benign type of pneumoconiosis
Baritosis is a benign type of pneumoconiosis, which is caused by long-term exposure to the dust of insoluble compounds of barium, such as ground baryte ore.
The disease may develop after few months of exposure. Barium compounds have a high radio-opacity. Extremely dense, discrete small opacities of 2–4 mm diameter, sometimes of a star-like configuration, are seen on the radiograph. Their distribution is uniform. When they are very numerous, superimposition may give the impression of confluency, but this does not seem to occur in reality. The hilar lymph nodes can be very opaque but not enlarged. After cessation of exposure, there is a gradual clearing of the opacities.