Occupational lung cancer

Abstract

Bronchopulmonary carcinoma is the first cause of death by cancer in males, its principal cause being tobacco consumption. Nonetheless, different studies have attributed a certain, by no means negligible percent of its aetiology to the occupational exposure to agents considered carcinogenic such as asbestos, with which half of the cases of occupational lung cancer are related. Given the low survival rate of this pathology, preventive measures directed at identifying carcinogenic agents and reducing exposure to them are extremely important. Given that the clinical presentation does not differ from tobacco-related carcinoma, a high level of suspicion, based on a meticulous occupational history, is fundamental to its diagnosis. Due to the synergic effect of tobacco, measures aimed at reducing its consumption continue to be extremely important in the exposed population.