Work in Brief

DIAGNOSING ASBESTOS-RELATED LUNG CANCER IN SMOKERS

Although some asbestos-related diseases are essentially specific to occupation (eg mesothelioma, asbestosis) others, like lung cancer, are not. This has led to concerns that certain asbestos-related cancers may be under-diagnosed, especially in smokers seeking compensation. Verger and colleagues have reported on physicians’ attitudes to such cases and the potential barriers to compensation as evidenced by a cross-sectional survey of French general practitioners and pulmonologists.1 Participants were presented with case vignettes differing only in relation to a worker’s smoking status and asked to assess whether they were work-related. Respiratory specialists …