Asbestosis.

Spectrum of disease:

parenchymal interstitial fibrosis is the predominant pattern(asbestosis)

localized fibrous plaques or, rarely, diffuse fibrosis in the pleura

pleural effusions

bronchogenic carcinoma

malignant pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas

laryngeal carcinoma

pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale like all ILD-(Interstitial lung disease)

Adsorption of carcinogens in tobacco smoke onto asbestos fibers may be important to the remarkable synergy between smoking and asbestosis

Morphology in asbestosis:

begins in the lower lobes and subpleurally

enlarged airspaces enclosed within thick fibrous walls- honeycombed appearance

Pleural plaques

M/E shows

diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis

asbestos bodies, formed when macrophages attempt to phagocytose the asbestos crystal.