Asbestosis

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Overview 
Theory 
Diagnosis 
Management 
Follow up 
Resources 

Last reviewed: 15 Nov 2025

Last updated: 04 Nov 2025

Asbestosis onset occurs ≥10 years following the initial exposure to asbestos.

Patients may be asymptomatic or have progressive shortness of breath.

A chest radiograph is the preferred initial test.

There is no definitive treatment.

Cigarette smoking cessation is important to reduce risk of lung cancer.

Prognosis is related to extent of fibrosis noted at diagnosis and past cumulative exposure to asbestos.

Definición

Asbestosis is a type of pneumoconiosis that presents as diffuse interstitial fibrosis of the lung following exposure to asbestos fibers.[1][2] Pleural abnormalities, which are also caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers, include plaques that may or may not be calcified, diffuse pleural thickening, benign pleural effusions or rounded atelectasis. These pleural abnormalities may occur either in concordance with or in the absence of parenchymal fibrosis.[1]

Anamnesis y examen

Principales factores de diagnóstico

occupational exposure
longer duration of exposure
smoking history

Todos los datos

Otros factores de diagnóstico

dyspnea on exertion
cough
crackles
indirect exposure
chest pain
clubbing

Todos los datos

Factores de riesgo

cumulative dose of inhaled asbestos
cigarette smoking

Todos los datos

Pruebas diagnósticas

Primeras pruebas diagnósticas para solicitar

chest x-ray: posterior-anterior (PA) and lateral
pulmonary function tests

Todos los datos

Pruebas diagnósticas que deben considerarse

high-resolution CT chest
lung biopsy
bronchial lavage

Todos los datos

Algoritmo de tratamiento

En curso

all patients

Colaboradores

Autores

Kenneth D. Rosenman, MD

Professor of Medicine

Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Michigan State University

East Lansing

Divulgaciones

KDR declares that he has no competing interests.

Revisores por pares

Henry A. Anderson, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Wisconsin Division of Public Health

Madison

Disclosures

HAA declares that he has no competing interests.

Keir Lewis, MD

Senior Clinical Lecturer

Institute of Life Sciences

Swansea University

Swansea

Disclosures

KL declares that he has no competing interests.

Thomasz J. Kuzniar, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare

Evanston

Disclosures

TJK declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

American Thoracic Society. Diagnosis and initial management of nonmalignant diseases related to asbestos. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004 Sep 15;170(6):691-715.Full text Abstract

Wolff H, Vehmas T, Oksa P, et al. Asbestos, asbestosis, and cancer, the Helsinki criteria for diagnosis and attribution 2014: recommendations. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2015 Jan;41(1):5-15.Full text Abstract

Markowitz SB, Levin SM, Miller A, et al. Asbestos, asbestosis, smoking, and lung cancer. New findings from the North American insulator cohort. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Jul 1;188(1):90-6. Abstract

Banks DE, Shi R, McLarty J, et al. American College of Chest Physicians consensus statement on the respiratory health effects of asbestos. Results of a Delphi study. Chest. 2017 Sep 18;4(1):e000223.Full text Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

Differentials
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Connective tissue disease
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP)
More Differentials
Guidelines
- Consensus report: asbestos, asbestosis and cancer: the Helsinki criteria for diagnosis and attribution 2014
- Diagnosis and initial management of nonmalignant diseases related to asbestos
More Guidelines
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Asbestosis

Summary

Definición

Anamnesis y examen

Principales factores de diagnóstico

Otros factores de diagnóstico

Factores de riesgo

Pruebas diagnósticas

Primeras pruebas diagnósticas para solicitar

Pruebas diagnósticas que deben considerarse

Algoritmo de tratamiento

all patients

Colaboradores

Autores

Kenneth D. Rosenman, MD

Divulgaciones

Revisores por pares

Henry A. Anderson, MD

Disclosures

Keir Lewis, MD

Disclosures

Thomasz J. Kuzniar, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

Disclosures

References

Key articles

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

Differentials

Guidelines

Log in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice

Log in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice

Log in to access all of BMJ Best Practice