Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 108, Issue 10 , Pages 819-825, October 2009

Porcelain Factory Worker With Asbestos-related Mesothelioma

  • Meng-Ting Tsou

      Affiliations

    • Department of Family Physicians, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Jiin-Chyuan J. Luo

      Affiliations

    • Department of Occupational Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
    • Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Jiin-Chyuan J. Luo, Department of Occupational Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 5 Fu Hsing Street, Kuei Shan, Taoyuan, Taiwan

Received 28 November 2007; received in revised form 27 February 2008; accepted 28 March 2008.

Article Outline

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare tumor among the general population, but for people exposed to asbestos, the lifetime risk is high. A 58-year old man presented with suffering from chest pain, upper back pain, shortness of breath, and coughing that had continued for several months. A chest X-ray revealed right-side pleural effusion; however, pleural biopsy from drainage treatment confirmed a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. According to his occupational and environmental history, the patient had worked continuously in a porcelain factory for 30 years. The specific characteristics of his work, making asbestos wallboards and gaskets, entailed working in high-temperature conditions with a high fine-particle content in the atmosphere. The high working temperature caused asbestos debris and dust to fall down regularly from the wallboards, however, it was not until recently that the patient had started to wear personal protection. Asbestos is a significant source of hazardous exposure in old buildings, and this case serves as a reminder of the importance of asbestos-related exposure history, which facilitated the correct diagnosis of pulmonary malignant mesothelioma. Asbestos-containing materials that are now banned or regulated are still present in older buildings and remain an exposure hazard; they continue to be a serious health concern in many countries.

Key Words:  asbestos , mesothelioma , occupational exposure

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PII: S0929-6646(09)60411-3

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(09)60411-3

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 108, Issue 10 , Pages 819-825, October 2009

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