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Abstract

Asbestos fibers were found in prostate and bladder neck tissues of two long time exposed industry workers. Etiology and anatomopathology are discussed.

In the first case, asbestos fibers produced progressive and recurring fibrosis of the bladder outlet. Urinary obstruction required a transurethral resection inducing retrograde ejaculation. No cancerous evolution was noticed at the time of the paper, i.e. 21 years after the first contact with asbestos.

In the second case, asbestos fibers were found in resection tissue from a prostate cancer which developed on the remaining true prostate 10 years after open adenomectomy. Various other industrial fibers were also identified. The histological aspect was very unusual. This might arouse the research assumption that these fibers could have their own influence on cancerous cell typology.

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Pathogenicity of asbestos is not fully understood.

Molecular structure, size of the fibers, way of penetration, severity and duration of exposure inflect the mode of pathology.

Inhaled fibers cross pleural membranes by a mechanism still to be cleared up. They induce fibrous pleural plaques which may develop into cancer, not only the well known mesotheliomas but also malignancies of peritoneum, kidney, testis, uterus, digestive tract.

Necropsies find asbestos fibers in almost all organs, including spleen, thyroïd, pancreas, heart, brain, prostate.

Ingested fibres are found only scarcely in abdominal organs. Most are eliminated via the urinary tract. Asbestos ingestion happens in industry conditions but fibers are also present in urine of populations who drink soil polluted water..

Histological diagnosis lays on optical microscope examination where granules made of fibers wrapped in reticular cells contain iron and are identified by histochemical tests..

Electronic microscope shows asbestos fibers free or lying inside macrophagic cells. Human derm fibroblasts culture brings the proof that asbestos fibers induce quick appearance of multinucleate giant cells.

Mineralogical identification and counting is done by electronic microscope after incineration.

Full description of all asbestos damages is to be made up.

In some areas of french Normandy cutaneous asbestos carbuncles are so familiar that they bear a vernacular common name