You hear a few crackles over her right lower lung. She is a non-smoker. Chest x-ray shows no infiltrate. Asbestosis is manifested by parietal pleural plaques, which may or may not be calcified. Silicosis increases the risk of developing lung cancer.
Asbestosis increases the risk of developing lung cancer.
Exam shows clear lungs to auscultation and his chest x-ray is normal. There is no lung abnormality present, though pulmonary disease could develop in the ensuing 24 hours. He has a mild metabolic acidosis associated with an increased anion gap. His arterial oxygen content is in the normal range. At the end of expiration there is a slight amount of positive airway pressure, between 3 and 5 cm H20 above atmospheric.