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Asbestosis

Laura B. Bishop, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Asbestos can lead to both malignant lung disease, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, and nonmalignant (benign) asbestosis-related pulmonary disease. The latter include:

    • Benign p...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • The most common symptoms include the following:

    • Exertional shortness of air in early disease

    • Progressive dyspnea, to the point of dyspnea at rest in advanced disease

    • Dry cough

    • Chest pain ...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • There is currently no curative treatment for asbestosis.

  • Patient should be notified of diagnosis and prognosis.

  • Clinical approach should focus on symptom relief and slowing pro...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Ongoing surveillance for persons with significant exposure history or current exposure with chest x-ray and pulmonary function testing every 3 t...

REFERENCES

1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Asbestosis-related years of potential life lost before age 65 years—United States, 1968–2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep....

ADDITIONAL READING

  • 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...

CODES

ICD10

  • J61 Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibers

  • J84.10 Pulmonary fibrosis, unspecified

  • J92.0 Pleural plaque with presence of asbestos

SNOMED

  • 22607003 Asbestosis (disorder)

  • 51615001 F...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • The increased latency period from initial exposure to asbestos to onset of symptoms can span from 10–40 years or longer.

  • In patients with interstitial fibrosis, careful exposure history...

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