Overview | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment
In order for your doctor to make an accurate asbestosis diagnosis it is important to provide an accurate history of any and all possible exposures to asbestos-containing materials. Your doctor may detect a dry, crackling sound when listening to your lungs with a stethoscope. A comprehensive evaluation will likely include one or more of these diagnostic tests:
- Pulmonary function tests - This type of test will measure how well your lungs are functioning. Pulmonary function tests measure how much air your lungs can hold and the airflow in and out of your lungs. In order to take these measurements, your doctor will likely use an instrument called a spirometer, which you breath into. Some pulmonary function tests measure the amount of gas exchanged through the membrane between your alveoli and capillary blood vessels.
- Chest X-ray - A chest X-ray can often detect abnormalities in your lungs. On an X-ray, areas of scar tissue that appear as small, scattered, opaque areas on the lining of your lungs are called pleural plaques. Although they indicate previous exposure to asbestos, they are not a predictor of asbestosis or malignant mesothelioma. Asbestosis appears as excessive whiteness in your lung tissue. If the asbestosis is advanced, your entire lung may be affected, giving it a honeycomb appearance.
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan - In some cases, your doctor may request a computerized tomography (CT) scan of your lungs. These scans generally provide greater detail than a usual chest X-ray. This may help detect asbestosis in its early stages, even before it shows up on the chest X-ray.
Contact a Minnesota Asbestosis Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with asbestosis, submit your information to the right for a Free Case Evaluation and one of our Minnesota asbestosis lawyers will contact you, or call one of our attorneys directly at 1-866-389-2540 or review our Minnesota asbestosis lawyers bio's.
