Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
157956 
Journal Article 
Identification of titanium in human tissues: Probable role in pathologic processes 
Moran, CA; Mullick, FG; Ishak, KG; Johnson, FB; Hummer, WB 
1991 
Yes 
Human Pathology
ISSN: 0046-8177
EISSN: 1532-8392 
BIOSIS/91/21982 
22 
5 
450-454 
English 
2032695 
WOS:A1991GJ45100007 
Six cases of titanium dioxide exposure involving lung, skin, and synovium are described, with a review of the literature. The patients, four men and two women, were between the ages of 22 and 65 years. The pulmonary changes were characterized by fibrosis and numerous macrophages with abundant deposition of a black pigment. Adjacent areas of bronchopneumonia were also observed. In the skin a severe necrotizing lesion involving the subcutaneous tissue with extension to the muscle was observed in one case and a nonspecific inflammatory response was observed in another; both cases showed abundant black pigment deposition. Electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray analysis demonstrated the presence of large quantities of titanium in the pigment granules. There may be a combination of black pigment deposition and fibrosis, necrosis, or a xanthomatous or granulomatous reaction, that, together with negative results on special staining and culture studies for organisms, should raise the suspicion of titanium-associated injury and prompt the study of the affected tissues by x-ray analysis for positive identification. 
Microscopy Techniques-Electron Microscopy; Radiation-Radiation and Isotope Techniques; Biochemical Studies-Porphyrins and Bile Pigments; Biochemical Studies-Minerals; Biophysics-General Biophysical Techniques; Anatomy and Histology; Pathology; Pathology; Respiratory System-Pathology; Integumentary System-Pathology; Toxicology-General; Hominidae