Asbestos and mesotheliomas

Abstract

Seven selected cases with asbestos in the lungs and a mesothelioma in the pleura or peritoneum were studied intensively using routine methods, polarized light, incineration technique, and acid digestion. We found that asbestos bodies, fragments, particles, and dust could be found in hilar and mediastinal nodes regularly. We could find asbestos bodies in lymphatics being transported to the nodes. We found asbestos bodies in the spleen, abdominal tumor, and small bowel wall and dust and particles in abdominal nodes and peritoneum. We found a small mesothelioma arising in the pleura in a case of peritoneal mesothelioma. We found a squamous cell carcinoma in the right lung and a mesothelioma of the left pleura. We have concluded that asbestos is irritating mechanically and chemically and that it is distributed widely in the body by the lymphatics and blood resulting in malignancies of various types with the pleura and peritoneum being especially susceptible.