FREQUENCY OF OCCUPATIONAL ASBESTOS EXPOSURE AMONG LUNG CANCER PATIENTS
IN HUNGARY. A PRELIMINARY REPORT
MÁRIA POSGAY, ANDRÁS MÁNDI, GYÖRGY
UNGVÁRY, PÁL VADÁSZ*, KATALIN MAJOR*, LÁSZLÓ
NÉMETH
József Fodor National Center for Public Health
National Institute of Occupational Health, Budapest, Hungary
*Korányi National Institute of Tuberculosis and Pulmonology,
Budapest, Hungary
Corresponding author: Mária Posgay, M.D.
József Fodor National Center for Public Health
National Institute of Occupational Health
1450 Budapest, P.O. Box 22, Hungary
CEJOEM 1999, Vol.5. No.1.:66-71
ABSTRACT: According to literary data in 1–20%, in majority of papers
in 5% of lung cancer patients asbestos exposure in the working history
can be proved. This would mean that in Hungary on the basis of the 6126
lung cancer incidence in 1996 at least in 60, maximally in 1200, with the
highest probability in about 300 cases an occupational asbestos exposure
could have been proved. But the number of observed such cases – apart from
mesothelioma – is very small. Therefore the occupational history of 300
lung cancer patients is explored by a questionnaire compiled by the working
group of the Justus-Liebig University, Giessen.
Also available chest radiographs and Computed Tomography
(CT) scans were re-evaluated by two independent radiologists with special
emphasis on signs of asbestos-exposure, especially the presence of pleural
plaques.
On the basis of the data analyzed until now it is
highly probable that similar percentage of asbestos-related malignancies
can be proved also in Hungary.
KEY WORDS: Asbestos, asbestos-related cancer, lung cancer, occupational
disease
Supported by the European Union, Contract No: IC 15-CT96-0301
Received: 19 March 1999
Accepted: 08 April 1999
Posted: December 1999 |
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