Asbestosis

Question 1

What is asbestosis?

Answer 1

Prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers, leading to nodular interstitial fibrosis

Question 2

How long of an exposure do you need to get asbestosis?

Answer 2

10-20 years of exposure

Question 3

What kind of occupations are at risk for asbestosis?

Answer 3

Employees of shipyards and construction

Question 4

What are the symptoms of asbestosis?

Answer 4

Worsening/progressive dyspnea
Inspiratory crackles
Digital clubbing
Cyanosis

Question 5

What would you see on a chest x ray?

Answer 5

Pleural plaques- thickening or calcification along the parietal pleura- particular along the lower lung fields and diaphragm, and the cardiac border.

Question 6

What would you see on a chest CT?

Answer 6

Method of choice
Linear streaking at the lung base and opacities of various shapes and sizes

Honeycomb changes along the edges of the lung

Pleural plaques

Question 7

Pt’s with asbestosis are at risk for what?

Answer 7

Lung cancer
(worse with smoking)
Mesothelioma
- malignant tumor of the pleural cavity