Tree cutter lung

Disease/Syndrome

Tree cutter lung

Category

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Acute/Chronic

Chronic

Comments

Acute presentation: flu-like illness with cough;
Subacute: recurrent "pneumonia";
Chronic: exertional dyspnea, productive cough, and weight loss;
The exposure is to wood chips from living maple and oak trees, and the suspected antigens are Penicillium (three species), Paecilomyces sp., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus sp., and Rhizopus sp. [See Reference Link] Three cases of HP were diagnosed in employees of a hardwood processing plant. Mold growth (Paecilomyces) was detected, and growth was promoted by drying the lumber in a kiln. [PMID 16621767] See "Hypersensitivity pneumonitis."

Latency/Incubation

Weeks to years until "sensitized"; acute symptoms 4-12 hours after exposure;

Diagnostic

Clinical; Chest x-ray; HRCT; Pulmonary function testing; BAL; Lung biopsy;

ICD-9 Code

495.8

ICD-10 Code

J67.8

Reference Link

Woodman's disease: hypersensitivity pneumonitis from cutting live trees.

IDdx Link

Tree cutter lung in the IDdx: Infectious Diseases Database