Asbestos-Related Conditions
Asbestos-Related Conditions
- Benign pleural effusion
- Occurs <20 years post-exposure
- Presents with SOB and pleuritic pain
- Management: drainage, may need pleurodesis
- Not eligible for industrial injuries benefit
- Bilateral pleural thickening
- Follows moderate/light exposure
- May progress without further exposure
- >5mm pleural thickening
- Symptoms: Exertional dyspnoea
- Restrictive pattern on lung function
- Symptomatic treatment
- Eligible for industrial injury benefits
- Asbestosis
- Heavy exposure with a 5-10 year interval
- Progressive SOB, finger clubbing, basal inspiratory crackles
- CXR: honeycombing, diffuse streaky shadowing
- Restrictive pattern on lung function
- Symptomatic treatment
- Common in naval shipyards/power stations
- Eligible for industrial injury benefits
- Mesothelioma
- Light exposure with a 20-40-year latency
- Presents with SOB and pleuritic pain
- CXR: unilateral (rarely bilateral) effusion
- Median survival: 2 years
- Palliative approach
- Eligible for industrial injury benefits
- Asbestos-related lung cancer
- Increased risk of bronchial carcinomas (especially adenocarcinoma)
- 5x greater risk in smokers with asbestos exposure
- Eligible for industrial injury benefits