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Features of asbestos‐exposed and unexposed mesothelioma
Author(s) -
Hirsch A,
Brochard P.,
De Cremoux H.,
Erkan L.,
Sebastien P.,
Di Menza L.,
Big J.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700030407
Subject(s) - asbestos , medicine , mesothelioma , asbestosis , bronchoalveolar lavage , sputum , peritoneal mesothelioma , pathology , lung , pathological , lung cancer , incidence (geometry) , respiratory disease , tuberculosis , materials science , physics , optics , metallurgy
Thirty‐six histologically confirmed cases of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma have been observed in a chest unit over a period of 53 months. The past asbestos exposure was assessed by a standardized questionnaire in all cases and the asbestos lung burden was determined by means of mineralogical analysis of lung‐related biological specimens (sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lung tissues) in 28 cases. The results of these two methods were found in good agreement. Past asbestos exposure has been definitely implicated in 17 cases and definitely eliminated in 10 cases. The results were nonconclusive in other cases. The group with definite past asbestos exposure was different from the nonasbestos‐exposed group by clinical, biological, pathological, and prognosis features that were analyzed. In cases without past asbestos exposure there were no other possible causative agents. Younger age and similar incidence in men and women suggest an environmental or natural disease.