Asbestosis Diagnosis

The diagnosis of asbestosis is far more likely to occur if the doctor is aware of the patient's history of exposure to asbestos. Asbestosis results in an abnormal functioning of the lungs. This results in a crackling sound when heard through a doctor's stethoscope. Diagnosis of asbestosis may also been done through the use of a chest x-ray or a chest computed tomography (CT). These would show changes characteristic of the illness. Examples of these changes include the development of pleural plaques which often contain calcium. This makes them easier for the doctor to locate during a chest x-rays and CT. Only rarely will patients need a lung biopsy in order to diagnose asbestosis.

However, in the event that a tumor of the pleura is found on x-ray, a doctor must perform a biopsy. A lung biopsy is when the doctor removes a small piece of pleura and examines it under a microscope in order to to determine if it is cancerous. The doctor may also perform a thoracentesis, which is when a needle is used to remove some fluid around the lungs which can also be analyzed for cancer cells. It should be noted that thoracentesis is not typically less accurate than a pleural biopsy. In the event that an x-ray of the chest reveals something that may be a tumor, there is a good possibility that the area is a primary lung cancer and should be evaluated fully.