Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer

A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

A 51-year-old male, exposed to asbestos for 24 years, was admitted because of the abnormal findings of the chest roentgenogram. Chest X-ray film showed tumorous shadow on the right diaphragm in the right lower lung and no findings of asbestosis. Fine crackles were audible on late inspiration at the bilateral posterior lung base. Needle biopsy of the lung tumor revealed adenocarcinoma of the lung.
Right lower lobectomy was carried out. The tumor in the right lower lobe (S10) measured 4 × 5 cm, in diameter. Histologically, the tumor was braonchiolo-alveolar cell carcinoma and the surrounding tissue showed moderate alveolitis. Numerous asbestos bodies were present in the area of alveolitis.
So far, few resected cases of asbestos-related lung cancer have been reported. The clinicopathological features of asbestos-related lung cancer are discussed.