Source: International Congress 2015 – Occupational and environmental cohort investigations and population studies
Disease area: Thoracic oncology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although asbestos exposure represents a risk to developing lung cancer, whether considered independently or associated with smoking, anecdotally there is evidence that cases are infrequently attributed to that risk and seldom pursued to compensation; in the UK, compensation is then dominated by asbestosis, diffuse pleural thickening or mesothelioma.OBJECTIVES/METHODS: Retrospective review of 229/442 (52%) patients with thoracic cancer diagnosed over an 18 month period to end May 2014 to (1) quantify based on abnormal radiology traditionally associated with asbestos exposure the number where the potential added risk of asbestos disease should have been considered, and (2) identify clinical attitude to recording smoking and/or asbestos risks in their initial assessments.RESULTS: Although potential asbestos related radiological findings additional to thoracic malignancy were reported for 77/229 (34%) patients, these figures were dominated by pleural effusions in 56 (24%), pleural thickening in 28 (12%), pleural plaques in 19(8%), and fibrosis in only 10(4%). Of 229 patients, positively or negatively, actual smoking history was recorded in 151 (66%) and both smoking and asbestos history in 71 (31%).CONCLUSIONS: With a third of patients here shown to have additional potentially asbestos related radiology, consideration should be given to more robust labelling of such potential cases when diagnosing lung cancer. Further, the Helsinki rules on potential identification should be publicised and clinicians made more aware of more robust recording of historic work practices.


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Citations should be made in the following way:
ayesha amjad (Telford, United Kingdom), Masood Ahmad Khalil, Ayesha Amjad, Kate Garbett, K.S. Srinivasan, H. Moudgil. Occupation related lung cancer: Asbestos risk reviewed. Eur Respir J 2015; 46: Suppl. 59, 1165

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