Asbestosis

Asbestosis

Prognosis is related to the extent of fibrosis noted at diagnosis and past cumulative exposure to asbestos.[1]American Thoracic Society. Diagnosis and initial management of nonmalignant diseases related to asbestos. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004 Sep 15;170(6):691-715. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.200310-1436ST#.U7_nqvldVlw http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15355871?tool=bestpractice.com Many patients with asbestosis will not progress and will go on to die from other conditions.

Pleural disease

A patient with only pleural changes is unlikely to develop asbestosis. Pleural changes occur after a long latency from first exposure, so if asbestosis was going to occur, it likely would have already.