Silicosis due to intentional inhalation of abrasive scouring powder. Case report with long-term survival and vasculitic sequelae.

Silicosis due to inhalation of abrasive scouring powder is now an unusual event. We report a nonindustrial case of acute silicosis due to intentional inhalation of commercial, silica-containing scouring powder. This case is unique in that the patient had a 20 year survival (after onset of symptoms) with typical roentgenographic and histopathologic changes of silicosis, and evidence of immune complex disease in extrapulmonary tissues.