Pulmonary asbestos body counts and electron probe analysis of asbestos body cores in patients with mesothelioma: a study of 25 cases

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Cancer (Philadelphia); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(19821201)50:11<2423::AID-CNCR2820501130>3.0.CO;2-I· OSTI ID:6377014

Roggli, V L; McGavran, M H; Subach, J; Sybers, H D; Greenberg, S D

Malignant mesotheliomas of the pleura and peritoneum are well-recognized risks of asbestos exposure. We determined the asbestos body content of the lungs from 24 cases of malignant mesothelioma (19 pleural, five peritoneal) and compared such to the content of lungs from 50 consecutive adult autopsies and four cases of overt asbestosis using a Clorox-digestion concentration technique. The cores of 90 asbestos bodies were examined by energy dispersive x-ray analysis and compared with similar data from 120 standard asbestos fibers and 20 fiberglass fibers. The malignant mesothelioma patients had asbestos body counts intermediate between those of the general population and those of patients with asbestosis, although some of the mesothelioma cases overlapped with the general population. These latter cases often lacked an identifiable occupational exposure to asbestos. EDXA studies demonstrated an amphibole core in 88 of the 90 asbestos bodies (amosite or crocidolite in 80 of 88, anthophyllite or tremolite in eight of 88), and chrysotile in two instances.

• Research Organization: Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine
• OSTI ID: 6377014
• Journal Information: Cancer (Philadelphia); (United States), Vol. 50:11
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASBESTOS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARCINOMAS
PATHOLOGY
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
LUNGS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PATIENTS
PERITONEUM
PERSONNEL
PLEURA
TEXTILE INDUSTRY
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY
BODY
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DISEASES
INDUSTRY
MEMBRANES
MICROANALYSIS
NEOPLASMS
ORGANS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SAFETY
SEROUS MEMBRANES
SPECTROSCOPY
550603* - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)
560306 - Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology- Man- (-1987)