A 30-year-old male with innumerable millimetric pulmonary nodules: tunnelling thoughts

Delian E. Hofman; Aldo Tanushi; Frits M. E. Franssen; Lisa M. Hillen; Marijke Rutten

doi:10.1016/j.rmcr.2026.102461

A 30-year-old male with innumerable millimetric pulmonary nodules: tunnelling thoughts

Delian E. Hofman^*
, Aldo Tanushi
, Frits M. E. Franssen
, Lisa M. Hillen
, Marijke Rutten

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

We report the case of a young Syrian male who presented to the emergency ward with mild exertional dyspnea and centrilobular millimetric pulmonary nodules. Given the broad differential and inconclusive medical history, a comprehensive diagnostic work-up was undertaken. Bronchoscopy with lymph node biopsy revealed a non-specific granuloma, while concurrent infectious screening identified tuberculosis infection (TBI). Further assessment of his occupational history revealed tunnelling work and raised a clinical suspicion for silicosis, an interstitial lung disease caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust, which was confirmed by pulmonary biopsy.

Original language	English
Article number	102461
Number of pages	6
Journal	Respiratory Medicine Case Reports
Volume	63
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmcr.2026.102461
Publication status	Published - 2026

Keywords

Clinical respiratory medicine
Environmental &amp
occupational health and
epidemiology
Pathology
Radiology and other imaging
Tuberculosis
SILICOSIS

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10.1016/j.rmcr.2026.102461Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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title = "A 30-year-old male with innumerable millimetric pulmonary nodules: tunnelling thoughts",

abstract = "We report the case of a young Syrian male who presented to the emergency ward with mild exertional dyspnea and centrilobular millimetric pulmonary nodules. Given the broad differential and inconclusive medical history, a comprehensive diagnostic work-up was undertaken. Bronchoscopy with lymph node biopsy revealed a non-specific granuloma, while concurrent infectious screening identified tuberculosis infection (TBI). Further assessment of his occupational history revealed tunnelling work and raised a clinical suspicion for silicosis, an interstitial lung disease caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust, which was confirmed by pulmonary biopsy.",

keywords = "Clinical respiratory medicine, Environmental \&amp, occupational health and, epidemiology, Pathology, Radiology and other imaging, Tuberculosis, SILICOSIS",

author = "Hofman, \{Delian E.\} and Aldo Tanushi and Franssen, \{Frits M. E.\} and Hillen, \{Lisa M.\} and Marijke Rutten",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1016/j.rmcr.2026.102461",

language = "English",

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journal = "Respiratory Medicine Case Reports",

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T1 - A 30-year-old male with innumerable millimetric pulmonary nodules

T2 - tunnelling thoughts

AU - Hofman, Delian E.

AU - Tanushi, Aldo

AU - Franssen, Frits M. E.

AU - Hillen, Lisa M.

AU - Rutten, Marijke

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - We report the case of a young Syrian male who presented to the emergency ward with mild exertional dyspnea and centrilobular millimetric pulmonary nodules. Given the broad differential and inconclusive medical history, a comprehensive diagnostic work-up was undertaken. Bronchoscopy with lymph node biopsy revealed a non-specific granuloma, while concurrent infectious screening identified tuberculosis infection (TBI). Further assessment of his occupational history revealed tunnelling work and raised a clinical suspicion for silicosis, an interstitial lung disease caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust, which was confirmed by pulmonary biopsy.

AB - We report the case of a young Syrian male who presented to the emergency ward with mild exertional dyspnea and centrilobular millimetric pulmonary nodules. Given the broad differential and inconclusive medical history, a comprehensive diagnostic work-up was undertaken. Bronchoscopy with lymph node biopsy revealed a non-specific granuloma, while concurrent infectious screening identified tuberculosis infection (TBI). Further assessment of his occupational history revealed tunnelling work and raised a clinical suspicion for silicosis, an interstitial lung disease caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust, which was confirmed by pulmonary biopsy.

KW - Clinical respiratory medicine

KW - Environmental &amp

KW - occupational health and

KW - epidemiology

KW - Pathology

KW - Radiology and other imaging

KW - Tuberculosis

KW - SILICOSIS

U2 - 10.1016/j.rmcr.2026.102461

DO - 10.1016/j.rmcr.2026.102461

M3 - Article

SN - 2213-0071

VL - 63

JO - Respiratory Medicine Case Reports

JF - Respiratory Medicine Case Reports

M1 - 102461

ER -

A 30-year-old male with innumerable millimetric pulmonary nodules: tunnelling thoughts

Abstract

Keywords

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