eMedicine Specialties > Radiology > Chest

Asbestosis: Follow-up

Author: Sam Chun, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Radiology, University of Western Ontario
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Dec 12, 2008

Intervention

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Patients who are diagnosed with asbestos-related disease should be made aware of their legal rights. This includes entitlement to appropriate medical treatment and/or monetary payment from a workers' compensation system. However, a compensation claim must be made within a set time period, which starts from the time of diagnosis (eg, 2 y in New York). As a result, it is important that the physician ensures patients understand the legal implications associated with the diagnosis.
  • Currently, asbestosis is a reportable occupational disease in approximately half of the states in the United States. Laws and regulations have been set forth to limit worker exposure and protect the public. Any reports of asbestos exposure should be promptly investigated by occupational health authorities. Most importantly, any effort to reduce exposure and risk of disease must involve proper training and education of workers and employers.
 
Acknowledgments

William B. Dawson, MD, FRCPC, is gratefully acknowledged for contributions made to this article.



More on Asbestosis

Overview: Asbestosis
Imaging: Asbestosis
Follow-up: Asbestosis
Multimedia: Asbestosis
References
Further Reading
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References

  1. National Center for Health Statistics. Asbestosis: Death rates (per million population) by race and sex, U.S. residents age 15 and over, 1995–2004. Available at http://www2a.cdc.gov/drds/WorldReportData/pdf/2007T01-02.pdf. Accessed November 21, 2008.

  2. National Center for Health Statistics. Asbestosis: Number of deaths by sex, race, and age, and median age at death, U.S. residents age 15 and over, 1995–2004. Available at http://www2a.cdc.gov/drds/WorldReportData/pdf/2007T01-01.pdf. Accessed November 21, 2008.

  3. Antao VC, Pinheiro GA, Wassell JT. Asbestosis Mortality in the United States: Facts and Predictions. Occup Environ Med. Nov 18 2008;[Medline].

  4. Bang KM, Mazurek JM, Syamlal G, Wood JM. Asbestosis mortality surveillance in the United States, 1970-2004. Int J Occup Environ Health. Jul-Sep 2008;14(3):161-9. [Medline].

  5. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Chest Radiography: B Reader Information for Medical Professionals. Centers for Disease Control. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/chestradiography/breader-info.html. Accessed November 24, 2008.

  6. Stayner L, Kuempel E, Gilbert S, Hein M, Dement J. An epidemiological study of the role of chrysotile asbestos fibre dimensions in determining respiratory disease risk in exposed workers. Occup Environ Med. Sep 2008;65(9):613-9. [Medline].

  7. Hessel PA, Gamble JF, McDonald JC. Asbestos, asbestosis, and lung cancer: a critical assessment of the epidemiological evidence. Thorax. May 2005;60(5):433-6. [Medline].

  8. International Labour Office. Guidelines for the use of the ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses. Revised Edition 2000. Occupational Safety and Health Series. No.22. Geneva: International Labour Office; 2000.

  9. Gamsu G, Salmon CJ, Warnock ML. CT quantification of interstitial fibrosis in patients with asbestosis: a comparison of two methods. AJR Am J Roentgenol. Jan 1995;164(1):63-8. [Medline].

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  11. Weber MA, Bock M, Plathow C, Wasser K, Fink C, Zuna I, et al. Asbestos-related pleural disease: value of dedicated magnetic resonance imaging techniques. Invest Radiol. Sep 2004;39(9):554-64. [Medline].

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  13. Becklake MR, Cowie RL. Environmental and occupational disorders. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine, 3rd edition. 2000;1830-37.

  14. Billings CG, Howard P. Asbestos exposure, lung cancer and asbestosis. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. Apr 2000;55(2):151-6. [Medline].

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  16. Fujimura N. Pathology and pathophysiology of pneumoconiosis. Curr Opin Pulm Med. Mar 2000;6(2):140-4. [Medline].

  17. Kamp DW, Weitzman SA. The molecular basis of asbestos induced lung injury. Thorax. Jul 1999;54(7):638-52. [Medline].

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Further Reading


Clinical trial

 Early Diagnosis of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma in Prior Asbestos Workers

Related eMedicine topics
Asbestosis (Pulmonology)

Asbestos-Related Disease (Radiology)

Mesothelioma

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Sam Chun, MD, Staff Physician, Department of Radiology, University of Western Ontario
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Judith K Amorosa, MD, FACR, Clinical Professor and Program Director, Department of Radiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
Judith K Amorosa, MD, FACR is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of University Radiologists, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Thoracic Radiology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Bernard D Coombs, MB, ChB, PhD, Consulting Staff, Department of Specialist Rehabilitation Services, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Eric J Stern, MD, Professor of Radiology, Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Medical Education and Biomedical Informatics, University of Washington School of Medicine; Director of Thoracic Imaging, Harborview Medical Center; Associate Medical Staff, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Eric J Stern, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of University Radiologists, European Society of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Thoracic Radiology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Robert M Krasny, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute
Robert M Krasny, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Eugene C Lin, MD, Consulting Radiologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center; Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Eugene C Lin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Nuclear Medicine, American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Nuclear Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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