Non-Occupational Anthracofibrosis Presenting as Massive Hemoptysis: A Case Report

Spalgais, Sonam; Jayakumar, Arathy; Mrigpuri, Parul; Kulshrestha, Ritu; Kumar, Raj

doi:10.22034/rspr.2026.25.1.1468

Non-Occupational Anthracofibrosis Presenting as Massive Hemoptysis: A Case Report

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

Sonam Spalgais ¹

Arathy Jayakumar ¹

Parul Mrigpuri ¹

Ritu Kulshrestha ²

Raj Kumar ¹

¹ Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi. Delhi, India 110007

² Department of Pathology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi. Delhi India 110007

10.22034/rspr.2026.25.1.1468

Abstract

Anthracofibrosis is considered a benign obstructive lung disease, usually in elderly non-smoking females. The disease is commonly seen in areas where exposure to biomass fuel is common from heating and cooking sources. The common presenting symptoms are cough and breathlessness. It is difficult to differentiate clinically and radiologically from other common lung diseases like COPD, TB, and lung cancer due to non-specific symptoms and radiological findings. The common radiological findings include enlarged calcified mediastinal lymph nodes, mass-like lesions, nodules, and atelectasis. Even on histopathology, it is also difficult to differentiate it from malignant disease like melanoma. Hemoptysis was reported as a symptom of anthracofibrosis in 9-20% of cases, but not as massive or life-threatening hemoptysis. We report a case of bronchial anthracofibrosis presenting as massive hemoptysis. Other possible causes of hemoptysis were ruled out. The patient refused further surgical management. She was treated conservatively and on regular follow-up for the last year without recurrence of hemoptysis and other complications.

Keywords

Anthracofibrosis

Hemoptysis

Biomass fuel

Exposure and Massive

Subjects