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Respiratory Diseases > Asbestosis > Flashcards

Flashcards in Asbestosis Deck (8)
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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