Asbestosis

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

Patients may be asymptomatic or have progressive shortness of breath.

CXR 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.

Asbestosis is diffuse interstitial fibrosis of the lung as a consequence of exposure to asbestos fibers.[1]American Thoracic Society. Diagnosis and initial management of nonmalignant diseases related to asbestos. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004;170:691-715. http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.200310-1436ST#.U7_nqvldVlw http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15355871?tool=bestpractice.com [2]Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. Asbestos, asbestosis and cancer: Helsinki criteria for diagnosis and attribution 2014. June 2014. http://www.ttl.fi/en/ (last accessed 25 October 2016). http://www.ttl.fi/en/publications/Electronic_publications/Documents/Asbestos_web.pdf 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]American Thoracic Society. Diagnosis and initial management of nonmalignant diseases related to asbestos. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004;170:691-715. http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.200310-1436ST#.U7_nqvldVlw http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15355871?tool=bestpractice.com