Asbestosis Flashcards
1
Q
what is it
A
pleural disease (fibrosis) affecting lung lining and lung base progressive - latent period after exposure
2
Q
what causes it
A
heavy prolonged asbestos exposure (5 years of daily exposure)
3
Q
what are affects of asbestos exposure
A
benign pleural plaques benign asbestos pleural effusions diffuse pleural thickening acute asbestos pleuritis malignant mesothelioma
4
Q
what is malignant mesothelioma
A
incurable pleural cancer which can invade chest wall - fatal in 2 years and almost always from asbestos exposure
5
Q
what are symptoms of malignant mesothelioma
A
chest pain, PE, sweating, dyspnoea
6
Q
what are signs of asbestosis
A
breathlessness
finger clubbing
7
Q
how is it diagnosed
A
pleural fluid aspiration - low cytological yield
CXR and CT - effusion, nodularity, local invasion, lung entrapment, upper love fibrosis
biopsy - asbestos fibres
sputum culture - asbestos bodies
8
Q
what is treatment
A
no treatment known to alter course of disease
pulmonary rehab and O2 therapy
corticosteroids often prescribed
