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berylliosis
(bә-ril″e-o´sis)
beryllium poisoning, usually involving the lungs and less often the skin, subcutaneous tissues, lymph nodes, liver, and other structures.
The fumes, oxide, salts, and finely divided dust of beryllium all may cause a tissue reaction when inhaled or implanted in
the skin. Acute berylliosis is basically a toxic or allergic pneumonitis, sometimes with rhinitis, pharyngitis, and tracheobronchitis. Chronic berylliosis,which is more common, is characterized by development of granulomas and a diffuse interstitial inflammatory reaction with
clinical and pathological findings often indistinguishable from those of sarcoidosis.
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