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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staff
Asbestosis can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms are similar to those of many other types of respiratory diseases. A variety of diagnostic tests may be needed to help pinpoint the diagnosis.
Imaging tests
- Chest X-ray. Asbestosis appears as excessive whiteness in your lung tissue. If the asbestosis is advanced, your entire lung may be affected, giving it a honeycomb appearance.
- Computerized tomography (CT). CT scans combine a series of X-ray views taken from many different angles to produce cross-sectional images of the bones and soft tissues inside your body. These scans generally provide greater detail and may help detect asbestosis in its early stages, even before it shows up on a chest X-ray.
Pulmonary function tests
These tests determine how well your lungs are functioning. Pulmonary function tests measure how much air your lungs can hold and the airflow in and out of your lungs. For example, you may be asked to blow as hard as you can into an air-measurement device called a spirometer. Some pulmonary function tests can measure the amount of oxygen being transferred to your bloodstream.
References
- Asbestos-related lung diseases. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/asb/asb_all.html. Accessed Oct. 29, 2010.
- Asbestos: Health effects. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/asbestos/health_effects/. Accessed Oct. 29, 2010.
- The asbestos informer. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/asbestos/inform.htm. Accessed Oct. 29, 2010.
- Cowie RL, et al. Asbestos-related fibrosis of the lungs (asbestosis) and pleura. In:
- Mason RJ, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00065-1--s0180&isbn=978-1-4160-4710-0&sid=1075834186&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00065-1--s0180&uniqId=224557682-3#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00065-1--s0180. Accessed Oct. 29, 2010.
- Samet JM. Occupational pulmonary disorders. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/224557682-4/1075834186/1492/377.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50098-7--cesec20_3900. Accessed Oct. 29, 2010.
- King TE. Asbestosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 29, 2010.
- Clinical screening guidelines for asbestos-related lung disease. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/site-kit/docs/clinscrguide_32205_lo.pdf. Accessed Nov. 1, 2010.
- DeShazo RD, et al. Asbestosis. In: Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1077017244&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00004-1--sc0100&isbn=978-1-4160-6642-2&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00004-1--s1330&uniqId=224896730-3. Accessed Nov. 1, 2010.
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