Asbestos-Related Lung Disease

Abstract

Asbestos is a high-profile health hazard. This article examines the assessment asbestos-related malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer. The risk of developing these diseases increases in proportion to the cumulative dose. As persons with heavy occupational asbestos exposures are diminishing, the observed latent period for asbestos-related disease extends making the assessment of an individual's cumulative dose is now more problematic.

Positive response of a primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma to pemetrexed plus cisplatin followed by pemetrexed maintenance chemotherapy: A case report

“…The association between asbestos exposure and malignant pleural mesothelioma is well documented, but the etiology of PMPM remains to be elucidated (16). Previous cases have rarely reported obvious exposure to asbestos (4,17).…”

Alteration of Various Lymphocytes by Particulate and Fibrous Substances

“…Asbestos fibers are a type of mineral silicate, while silica is particulate in nature. Additionally, asbestos can cause cancers such as malignant mesothelioma (MM) and lung cancer [30][31][32][33]. Silica particles can act to disrupt the regulation of autoimmune tolerance while asbestos fibers can facilitate a decline in antitumor immunity.…”

Usual interstitial pneumonia in asbestos‐exposed cohorts – concurrent idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or atypical asbestosis?

“…There are vagaries in determining what constitutes ‘diffuse’ interstitial fibrosis . In smokers, there are difficulties in distinguishing asbestos from smoking‐induced lung fibrosis, but most commonly there is difficulty in diagnosing genuine asbestosis from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in persons with an unusually rapid clinical tempo and a corresponding usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)‐like pattern on pathology . With respect to the quantification of asbestos bodies, there may be difficulties in distinguishing asbestos from non‐asbestos bodies (pseudoasbestos bodies), in undertaking asbestos body counting, and in the recognition that some individuals with intrinsic immune lysosomal dysfunction have a limited capacity to coat inhaled fibres to form ‘coated’ bodies …”

“…3 In smokers, there are difficulties in distinguishing asbestos from smokinginduced lung fibrosis, 4 but most commonly there is difficulty in diagnosing genuine asbestosis from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in persons with an unusually rapid clinical tempo and a corresponding usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)-like pattern on pathology. 5,6 With respect to the quantification of asbestos bodies, there may be difficulties in distinguishing asbestos from non-asbestos bodies (pseudoasbestos bodies), in undertaking asbestos body counting, and in the recognition that some individuals with intrinsic immune lysosomal dysfunction have a limited capacity to coat inhaled fibres to form 'coated' bodies. 7,8 The CAP-PPS asbestosis guidelines committee report 2 makes clear that there is a requirement for an 'appropriate' pattern of interstitial fibrosis in asbestosis, described as 'always paucicellular, lacks any significant degree of inflammation, and is collagenous rather than fibroblastic'.…”