Last reviewed: 30 Sep 2024
Last updated: 10 Jul 2024
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- occupational exposure
- longer duration of exposure
- smoking history
Full details
Other diagnostic factors
- dyspnea on exertion
- cough
- crackles
- indirect exposure
- chest pain
- clubbing
Full details
Risk factors
- cumulative dose of inhaled asbestos
- cigarette smoking
Full details
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- chest x-ray: posterior-anterior (PA) and lateral
- pulmonary function tests
Full details
Tests to consider
- high-resolution CT chest
- lung biopsy
- bronchial lavage
Full details
Treatment algorithm
ONGOING
all patients
Contributors
Authors
Kenneth D. Rosenman, MD
Professor of Medicine
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Michigan State University
East Lansing
MI
Disclosures
KDR declares that he has no competing interests. KDR is the author of an article cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Henry A. Anderson, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Wisconsin Division of Public Health
Madison
WI
Disclosures
HAA declares that he has no competing interests.
Keir Lewis, MD
Senior Clinical Lecturer
Institute of Life Sciences
Swansea University
Swansea
UK
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
IL
Disclosures
TJK declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Connective tissue disease
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP)
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Consensus report: asbestos, asbestosis and cancer: the Helsinki criteria for diagnosis and attribution 2014
- Diagnosis and initial management of nonmalignant diseases related to asbestos
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