Asbestos fibers in para-aortic and mesenteric lymph nodes.
BACKGROUND
Asbestos fibers are known to accumulate in lung parenchyma and thoracic lymph nodes, but their presence and translocation into the extrapulmonary tissues need clarification. We assessed the presence of asbestos in the para-aortic (PA) and mesenteric (ME) lymph nodes.


METHODS
PA and ME lymph nodes and lung tissue from 17 persons who underwent medicolegal autopsy for suspicion of asbestos-related disease and from five controls were analyzed for asbestos fibers using transmission electron microscopy.


RESULTS
High concentrations of amphibole asbestos fibers were detected in several lung tissue samples and in the respective PA and ME lymph nodes. The mean concentration for the 10 persons with a lung asbestos content of >/=1 million fibers/g of dry tissue (f/g) was 0.85 (<0.05-4.36) million f/g in the PA lymph nodes and 0.55 (<0.02-2.86) million f/g in the ME lymph nodes. The respective mean values for the 12 persons with a lung asbestos concentration of <1 million f/g were 0.07 for the PA lymph nodes and 0.03 million f/g for the ME nodes. The lung asbestos burden that predicted the detection of asbestos in abdominal lymph nodes was 0.45 million f/g.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to their accumulation in lung tissue, asbestos fibers also collect in the retroperitoneal and the mesenteric lymph nodes. Even low-level occupational exposure results in the presence of crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, or chrysotile in these abdominal lymph nodes. Our results support the hypothesis of lymph drainage as an important translocation mechanism for asbestos in the human body.
Uibu
Toomas
T
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. toomas.uibu@saunalahti.fi
Vanhala
Esa
E
Sajantila
Antti
A
Lunetta
Philippe
P
Mäkelä-Bengs
Päivi
P
Goebeler
Sirkka
S
Jäntti
Matti
M
Tossavainen
Antti
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis*; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000032:analysis; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D001822:Body Burden; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000032:analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space
D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; D019016:Mineral Fibers; D001194:Asbestos