There are a number of asbestos related diseases associated with asbestos exposure:
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer affecting the mesothelial tissue lining of three large body cavities; the pleura (lung cavity), the peritoneum (abdominal cavity) and the pericardium (heart sac). A case of malignant mesothelioma is typed in accordance with the affected mesothelial tissue:
Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious asbestos-related disease because it is both fatal and incurable.
Asbestos lung cancer is a type of lung cancer caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Asbestos lung cancer is often confused with pleural mesothelioma because they both result from asbestos exposure and are in close proximity of one-another. Asbestos cancer originating in the lung is called primary asbestos lung cancer. Asbestos cancer originating elsewhere in the body and spreading to the lungs is called secondary asbestos lung cancer.
Smokers who are exposed to asbestos fibers are more likely to develop asbestos lung cancer than non-smokers.
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs. Caused by prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers, asbestosis sufferers are faced with a severe shortness of breath (dyspnea) and are at an increased risk of developing a more serious asbestos-related disease like malignant mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer. Although asbestosis is not directly fatal, it can severely limit a sufferer’s total lung capacity and lead to heart failure.
Diffuse pleural thickening is a disease not only associated with asbestos exposure, but a variety of other ailments that include tuberculosis, connective tissue diseases and haemothorax (blood accumulation in pleural space). This disease causes functional impairment of the lungs by decreasing lung volumes and gas exchange.
Diffuse pleural thickening resulting from asbestos exposure rarely calcifies and is ill-defined and irregular from all angles. A CT scan is a more effective imagery tool for detecting diffuse pleural thickening than chest radiography.