Asbestosis occurring after brief inhalational exposure: usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage in diagnosis.
A case of clinically and radiologically typical asbestosis manifesting in a 55 year old man occurred 36 years after a brief exposure period of less than one year. A transbronchial lung biopsy was performed but the samples were considered non-diagnostic. The diagnosis was supported by the use of bronchoalveolar lavage to obtain alveolar samples and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x ray analysis of fibres found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid which showed a predominance of amosite.
Barbers
R G
RG
Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine.
Abraham
J L
JL
D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis*; D017639:Asbestos, Amosite; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
D017639:Asbestos, Amosite; D001194:Asbestos