Carcinoma of the lung in the absence of asbestosis: The value of lung fiber burden analysis. (3rd May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roggli, Victor L.; Sporn, Thomas A.
• Is Part Of: Ultrastructural pathology. Volume 40:Number 3(2016:Jun.)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 154
• Publication Date: 2016-05-03
• Subjects: Asbestosis -- carcinoma -- fiber burden analysis; Pathology, Cellular -- Periodicals; Ultrastructure (Biology) -- Periodicals; Diagnosis, Electron microscopic -- Periodicals; Microscopy, Electron; Pathology; 616.07582
• DOI: 10.3109/01913123.2016.1154915
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-3123

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Asbestos is universally recognized as a carcinogen for the lower respiratory tract. However, asbestos is a contributory factor in a small fraction of lung cancers, the vast majority of which are related to cigarette smoking. The challenge for the pathologist is to determine when a lung cancer may be attributed to past asbestos exposure. The finding of asbestosis either clinically or pathologically is a useful marker for such a determination. However, in the absence of asbestosis, it has been suggested that a fiber burden as determined by analytical electron microscopy within the range of asbestosis is sufficient for determination of a causal contribution. We report here an example of a case of lung cancer in which fiber burden studies showed an asbestos concentration within the range of asbestosis as determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).