Asbestosis occurring after brief inhalational exposure: usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage in diagnosis |
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Authors: | R G Barbers J L Abraham |
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Institution: | Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine. |
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Abstract: | A case of clinically and radiologically typical asbestosis manifesting in a 55 year old man occurred 36 years after a brief exposure period of less than one year. A transbronchial lung biopsy was performed but the samples were considered non-diagnostic. The diagnosis was supported by the use of bronchoalveolar lavage to obtain alveolar samples and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x ray analysis of fibres found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid which showed a predominance of amosite. |
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