Asbestosis and Malignant Disease

Abstract
CLINICIAN and pathologist must add a new manmade etiology when a chest tumor presents itself for diagnosis. Dating from 1938,1 evidence has been accumulating that there is a significant increase in bronchogenic carcinoma in workers suffering from asbestosis. Between 1960, when Wagner et al.2 documented 33 cases of pleural mesothelioma associated with asbestos exposure from one geographic area in South Africa, and the report of Selikoff, Churg and Hammond in the current issue of the Journal, impressive data have been collected on this subject. These reports reveal a demonstrable rise in cases of carcinoma of the lung in workers . . .