Efficacy of in-air microanalysis of particles in interstitial pneumonia lung tissue

Koga, Yasuhiko*; Kaira, Kyoichi*; Yamada, Masanobu*; Dobashi, Kunio*; Matsuzaki, Shinichi*; Hisada, Takeshi*; Koka, Masashi; Yamada, Naoto; Sato, Takahiro; Yokoyama, Akihito; Okubo, Takeru; Ishii, Yasuyuki; Okudera, Koji*; Sugisaki, Midori*; Ogura, Takashi*

The aim of this study was to assess the utility of in-air micro-PIXE (particle induced X-ray emission) analysis for lung biopsy specimens of patients with occupational dust exposure. Some patients with evidence of interstitial pneumonia (IP) on computed tomography were enrolled in this study. Lung specimens were obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) at bronchofiberscopy or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). These samples were measured with the in-air micro-PIXE analyzer at TIARA after freeze-drying. As a result, it was revealed that the elemental distributions in tiny particles in the lung tissues varied widely among those patient specimens. For example, aluminum was detected in a lung specimen of a patient working at aluminum plant. Therefore, elemental analysis of lung specimens by in-air micro PIXE is useful for the biopsy of dust-exposed patients.