Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue covering many internal organs. Asbestosis is a type of pulmonary fibrosis that causes scarring and thickening of lung tissue.

Both conditions can happen as a result of asbestos exposure.

Although the conditions share some similarities, there are important differences between them. Mesothelioma and asbestosis cause different symptoms. The conditions also require different methods of treatment.

This article compares asbestosis and mesothelioma and looks at their symptoms, causes, diagnoses, treatments, and outlooks.

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Asbestos fibers can cause scarring and inflammation in the lung tissue when a person inhales them.

Prolonged asbestos exposure may lead to various health conditions and complications. These include asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a type of pulmonary fibrosis, which healthcare professionals also refer to as an interstitial lung disease.

The disease is progressive, which means it worsens over time. It occurs when asbestos fibers become trapped in the alveoli, the air sacs attached to the airways in the lungs, and cause irritation and scarring.

Scarring of the lung tissue can cause it to thicken and stiffen, making it difficult for the lungs to expand when a person inhales.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that develops in the mesothelium. This includes the pleura, which is the lining of the lungs, and the lining of the chest wall.

Mesothelioma less often affects the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen, and the tunica vaginalis, the tissue in and around the testicles.

Lung irritation from prolonged asbestos exposure results in damage that may eventually cause abnormal cancer cells to develop.

As mesothelioma progresses, it may cause fluid to accumulate in the space between the chest wall and the lungs. This can affect a person’s ability to breathe normally.

Asbestosis and mesothelioma have some symptoms in common, and some that differ.

Asbestosis symptoms

A person will typically develop symptoms of asbestosis 10 to 40 years after long-term asbestos exposure. Symptoms may include:

Mesothelioma symptoms

Mesothelioma symptoms typically occur in the advanced stages of the disease, once the tumor has grown large enough to affect the surrounding tissues and organs.

Symptoms include:

Mesothelioma in the lining of the abdomen may cause:

Long-term asbestos exposure is responsible for asbestosis and the majority of cases of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring substance that various manufacturers have mined and used widely across many industries.

Previously, building and construction companies used asbestos as insulation and to strengthen building materials.

In the late 1970s, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned several uses of asbestos, and in 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos.

People with the highest risk of asbestos exposure are those who:

  • worked with asbestos products before the late 1970s
  • work in the construction, demolition, or renovation of older buildings
  • live in or spend time in older buildings with uncontained asbestos

Asbestosis causes

The airborne fibers from asbestos may gather and become trapped in the alveoli in the lungs when a person inhales them. The fibers can irritate and scar the lung tissue.

Over time, asbestosis may progress until scarring in the lung tissue is severe. This causes the lung tissue to thicken and become stiff, which prevents the lungs from expanding as normal during inhalation.

Mesothelioma causes

Experts do not know the precise causes of mesothelioma, but they have identified prolonged asbestos exposure as the primary risk factor for the disease. According to the American Lung Association, 8 in 10 people with mesothelioma report asbestos exposure.

Researchers believe asbestos exposure may lead to mesothelioma in various ways. These include direct damage to mesothelial cells, which could lead to cell abnormalities, and the release of growth factors and inflammatory proteins called cytokines, which may encourage tumor growth.

Doctors use many similar methods of diagnosis for asbestosis and mesothelioma.

These may include:

  • gathering a detailed medical history
  • asking questions about a person’s occupational history and their exposure to asbestos
  • performing a physical examination
  • ordering imaging tests, such as a chest X-ray and CT scan
  • performing pulmonary function tests
  • performing a lung biopsy

Less commonly, a doctor may perform a bronchial lavage. In this procedure, a doctor will insert a thin tube, called a bronchoscope, into the airways through the nose or mouth.

They will put a saline solution through the bronchoscope to wash the airways and collect a fluid sample for laboratory testing.

Asbestosis and mesothelioma require different treatments.

There is no cure for asbestosis, and treatment cannot reverse the damage that asbestos fibers have caused to the lungs.

However, treatment can help a person manage the symptoms and slow the progression of asbestosis.

Treatment for asbestosis may include:

  • stopping smoking, for those who smoke
  • avoiding sources of asbestos and airborne pollutants
  • oxygen therapy, which involves the use of an oxygen tank and mask
  • pulmonary rehabilitation, a program of exercises to help people with chronic lung conditions maintain lung function
  • a lung transplant, in people with severe asbestosis

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that doctors are often only able to diagnose in its advanced stages when symptoms become apparent.

Treatment for mesothelioma may vary, depending on the stage and location of the cancer.

Treatment for mesothelioma commonly involves surgery to remove the cancer, if possible, and chemotherapy, to reduce the severity of symptoms.

Less often, a doctor may treat mesothelioma with:

The outlook for those with asbestosis and mesothelioma vary depending on the severity and advancement of the conditions.

The outlook for people with asbestosis may be worse for individuals who have had a more intense, long-term exposure to asbestos. During the later stages of asbestosis, a person may have a higher risk of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma. People who receive early diagnosis and treatment typically have a better outlook.

The outlook for people with mesothelioma is typically poor, as the cancer is often aggressive and difficult to diagnose.

According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rates for mesothelioma are:

  • 24% when mesothelioma is localized to the pleura
  • 16% when mesothelioma is regional and has spread to nearby lymph nodes and structures
  • 7% when mesothelioma has spread to distant areas of the body

Prolonged asbestos exposure is the cause of asbestosis and most cases of mesothelioma. The conditions have various similarities and differences.

Asbestosis is a type of pulmonary fibrosis, in which the lungs become scarred, thickened, and stiff. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that often affects the lining of the lungs, called the pleura, and the chest wall.

Doctors may use similar methods of diagnosis for both conditions. However, they require different treatment approaches. Treatment for both asbestosis and mesothelioma aims to manage their symptoms.