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Talc lung in a drug abuser

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Summary

We report a case of intravenous talcosis in a 36 year old woman. Although she initially denied drug abuse clinical suspicion was aroused by the finding of obliterated peripheral veins, a pleural rub and a peripheral nodular lesion on chest x-ray. Diagnosis of intravenous talcosis was confirmed by finding birefringent particles on transbronchial biopsy. Confronted with this evidence the patient admitted long-standing drug abuse, including intravenous injection of crushed methadone tablets which contain talc filler.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. St. Vincent’s Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4

    A. D. Hill, M. E. Toner & M. X. FitzGerald

Authors
  1. A. D. Hill
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  2. M. E. Toner
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  3. M. X. FitzGerald
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Hill, A.D., Toner, M.E. & FitzGerald, M.X. Talc lung in a drug abuser. I.J.M.S. 159, 147–148 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02937408

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02937408

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