asbestosis

Question 1

what is Asbestos ?

Answer 1

heterogeneous group of natural asbestiform minerals
made of hydrated silicates and magnesium

Question 2

Tell me the macroscopic form of Asbestiform?

Answer 2

fibrous structure.
can separate them like cotton candy

Question 3

Tell me the classification - based on physical and chemical structure ?

Answer 3

Serpentine (curved) - white asbestos:
- Chrysotile - white asbestos

amphiboles (straight and needle-like)
- Crocidolite - blue asbestos
- Amosite - brown asbestos
- Tremolite Asbestos
- Actinolite Asbestos
- Anthophyllite Asbestos

Question 4

which type of Asbestos is the least potent?

Answer 4

Chrysotile (Serpentine type)

Question 5

crocodile

which type of Asbestos is the most potent?

Answer 5

Crocidolite (amphiboles type) - blue

Question 6

what is the type of possible exposure to Asbestos?

Answer 6

• Production
• Manufacturing
• handlers

Question 7

what occupations are at high risk of exposure ?

Answer 7

• Insulators
• Sheet-metal workers
• Plumbers
• Pipefitters
• shipscalers
• Acoustic product installers
• **Asbestos millers **
• **Asbestos miners **
• Roofers

Question 8

What is the non malginatant clinical chronic effect?

Answer 8

non malignant diseases
- asbestosis
- pleural thickening
- plawues
- benign pleural effusion/benign exudative pleuritis
- rounded atelectasis

Question 9

what is the malignant clincial chronic effect?

Answer 9

cancer of the respiratory tract
- cancer of the lung
- cancer ofthe laryinx

malignant mesothelioma of the pleura or peritoneum
gastrointestinal cancer

Question 10

pathogensis of asbestosis ?

Answer 10

• inhaled fibers
• effecting at the levl of the bronchiols and alveoli
• migration to the pulmonary interstitium
• accumulation of macrophages
• leading to inflammatory response (alveolitis and peribronchiolitis)

Question 11

histologic diagnosis of asbestosis

Answer 11

• asbestos bodies/ferruginous body
• they are asbestos fibers coated with ferroprotein by macrophages
• brownish club-shaped
• symmtrical nodular structure
• stain for iron due to high ferritin content

Question 12

Diagnosis of asbestosis

Answer 12

exposure history
clinical basilar rales
radiographic - ILO profusion abnormalities greater than 1/0
pulmonary fucntion - restrictive or restrictive-obstructive impairment on pulmonary function

Question 13

clinical history ?

Answer 13

respiratory symptoms
- progressive dyspnea
- diminish exertional tolerance
- non productive cough
- productive cough

Question 14

physical examination

Answer 14

• physical finding absent
• basilar rales pan-inspiratory or only end inspiration
• clubbed fingers
• cyanosis
• post ant chest X-ray shows small irregular opacities at the lung bases: s,t , u

Question 15

pulmonary function of asbestosis

Answer 15

• restrcitve
• decreased ventilatory capacity
• diminished diffusing capacity
• hypoxemia
• reduced CO2 diffusion capacity

Question 16

what is the differentail diagnosis of Asbestosis

Answer 16

• idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• collagen vascular diseases
  1. progressive systemic sclerosis
  2. polymyositis
  3. RA
  4. lupus
• acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis
• eosinophilic pneumonia
• lymphangitic carcinomatosis

Question 17

what is the treatment for Abestosis ?

Answer 17

• corticosteroids - immunesuppresive
• therapy
  1. bronchodilators
  2. inhaled steroid therapy
  3. o2
  4. antibiotics

Question 18

prevention of Asbestosis

Answer 18

• smoking cessation
• eliminate or minimize all future exposures
• exposure limits: occupational exposure is limited
• medical surveillance
  1. periodic examinaition