Occupational Lung Disease Flashcards
What benign conditions may be caused by asbestos exposure?
Pleural plaques
Pleural thickening
Benign pleural effusions
Asbestos bodies
What interstitial conditions can be caused by asbestos exposure?
Asbestosis
What malignant conditions can be caused by asbestos exposure?
Mesothelioma
Lung cancer
Describe pleural plaques
Affect parietal pleura Often asymptomatic, can cause chest pain Mild restrictive deficit Pleural thickening/calcification on CXR Non-progressive
Describe pleural thickening
Diffuse thickening of pleura
Causes breathlessness
Restrictive deficit
Describe benign pleural effusion
Typically w/i 10-20 yrs of exposure
May require drainage
May resolve spontaneously
Describe asbestosis
Caused by heavy exposure 20-40 years b/w exposure and disease onset Progressive dyspnoea Honeycombing on CXR Poor outcome
Define Pneumoconiosis
Interstitial lung diseases caused by inhaling inorganic dusts
Cause a range of granulomatous/fibrotic changes
How does coal mining lead to Pneumoconiosis?
Coal dust (mainly silica) reatained in alveoi
Engulfed by macrophages - immune response
Pulmonary fibrosis develops
Describe simple pneumoconiosis
Nodular ILD (2-5mm)
Patients often asymptomatic
Increases risk of COPD/PMF
Decreased FEV1
Describe complex pneumoconiosis (progressive massive fibrosis)
Progression from SOB on exertion, cough, black sputum to resp failure
Large fibrotic masses in upper lobe (>10mm)
Mixed res/obs
Decreased LV/gas transfer
What are the common risk factors for asbestos exposure?
> 50yrs
Worked in building/shipyards
What is mesothelioma?
Type of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos
What are the common sx of mesothelioma?
20-40yrs b/w exposure & onset
Pleuritic chest pain
Progressive dyspnoea
Unilateral pleural effusion (on CXR)
What is the prognosis of mesothelioma?
Poor
Median survival of 2yrs from dx
