Making a Diagnosis:

There are three ways to make a diagnosis.

A) Clinical Diagnosis: Such as from the occupational history of exposure, pulmonary function tests, the clinical examination and the composite of other laboratory or consulting work.

B) Pathologic or Histologic Diagnosis – based upon findings seen on gross tissue specimens and/or microscopic, including electron microscope analysis such as evidence for fibrosis, asbestos bodies, etc.

C) Imaging Diagnosis – based upon the imaging findings of asbestosis or asbestos-related disease by chest x-ray, CT, HRCT or PET/CT.

All three diagnoses contribute to the evaluation of the individual exposed and depending on the circumstances, any, some or all of the three may contribute more to a final determination of the specific disease diagnosis. (more…)