A Case of Sarcoidosis Combined with Silicosis in a Stonemason

Introduction
Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that can affect any organ, of which exact cause is uncertain. Currently, investigations of crystalline silica improve the mechanism how it works the course of autoimmune diseases and some hypothesis supports that it also can attribute to sarcoidosis.

Methods
In this case report, we perform a telephone interview to know his work history. we reviewed the hospital data and KOSHA(Korean Occupationa Safety and Health administration) data.

Results
The patient was a 53-year-old male, with occupational history as a stonemason for 30 years. According to his occupational history and chest X-ray, he was diagnosed with silicosis. After that, the sarcoidosis had been suspected in CT, a biopsy was performed and he was diagnosed with sarcoidosis.

Discussion
It is thought that sarcoidosis develops more likely in the people who works at place with risk at exposures to crystalline silica. Through showing the positive association between sarcoidosis and crystalline silica, this case suggests that if a patient gets sarcoidosis probably after being exposed to crystalline silica or once diagnosed with silicosis before, his or her sarcoidosis should be recognized as an occupational related disease.