Makindo Medical Notes"One small step for man, one large step for Makindo" |
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Related Subjects: |Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis |Diffuse Parenchymal Lung disease |Asbestos Related Lung disease |Sarcoidosis |Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis |Silicosis |Farmer's Lung |Cryptogenic Organising Pneumonia (COP-BOOP) |Extrinsic Allergic alveolitis (Hypersensitivity) |Byssinosis |Pneumoconiosis |Cor Pulmonale
Asbestos exposed patients must stop smoking if they do not wish to reduce risks of cancer. In the UK, individuals diagnosed with asbestos-related lung diseases, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, or lung cancer, may be eligible for compensation through several avenues
Type of Disease | Clinical Features | Diagnostic Tests | Management |
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Asbestosis | A sign of heavy asbestos exposure. Usually mild and takes 20-30 years to occur. Progressive dyspnoea, dry cough, bilateral inspiratory crackles, clubbing of fingers. Increased risk of lung cancer. | Chest X-ray (bilateral pleural plaques), High-Resolution CT (HRCT) scan showing fibrosis, Pulmonary function tests (restrictive pattern), Lung biopsy (if needed). | Supportive care (oxygen therapy), Smoking cessation, Vaccinations (influenza, pneumococcus), Pulmonary rehabilitation, Surveillance for lung cancer and mesothelioma. |
Pleural Plaques | Generally asymptomatic and are markers of exposure, seen on imaging; may cause chest pain in some cases. | Chest X-ray (calcified pleural plaques), HRCT scan for better visualization. | No specific treatment needed, Patient education, Smoking cessation, Surveillance for other asbestos-related diseases. |
Pleural Effusion | Dyspnoea, pleuritic chest pain, decreased breath sounds on the affected side. | Chest X-ray (blunting of costophrenic angle), Ultrasound or CT scan for further evaluation, Thoracentesis (to analyze pleural fluid). | Treatment of underlying cause, Thoracentesis (to relieve symptoms), Monitoring for recurrence or progression. |
Diffuse Pleural Thickening | Progressive dyspnoea, chest pain, restrictive lung disease. | Chest X-ray (diffuse pleural thickening), HRCT scan, PFTs showing restrictive pattern. | Supportive care, Smoking cessation, Pulmonary rehabilitation, Surveillance for progression. |
Mesothelioma | A progressive and aggressive tumour that can encase the lung causing chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, dyspnoea, pleural effusion, often with a long latency period from exposure to symptom onset. | Chest X-ray, CT scan, PET scan, Biopsy (definitive diagnosis), Pleural fluid cytology. Tumour can grow along needle tracks. | Multimodal therapy (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation), Palliative care for advanced stages, Outcomes poor. Clinical trials for novel therapies. |
Lung Cancer | More commonly adenocarcinoma but also squamous cell carcinoma are associated with asbestos exposure. Smoking is additive. Cough, haemoptysis, weight loss, chest pain, dyspnoea, often associated with a history of smoking and asbestos exposure. | Chest X-ray, CT scan, PET scan, Bronchoscopy with biopsy, Sputum cytology. | Depends on stage: Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Targeted therapies, Smoking cessation. |
Pleural plaques - resemble candle wax dripping
Mesothelioma encasing lung