Aspects médico-sociaux des pathologies tumorales thoraciques professionnelles

Previous occupational exposure to asbestos is the most frequently encountered n lung cancer, but there are other occupational factors, such as crystalline silica, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons derived from coal, hexavalent chromium or cadmium. Occupational exposures to carcinogenic agent should be systematic ally searched in any case of lung cancer. Identification of an occupational lung cancer is often difficult, because of numerous etiological factors and because of the absence of clinical specificity of occupational lung cancer compared to smoking related lung cancer. By contrast, the diagnosis of mesothelioma immediately directs the clinician to search a past exposure to asbestos.Identifying situations of exposure to causative carcinogenic agents is essential, it allows the identification of cases likely to be eligible for recognition as an occupational disease, and in the case of previous exposure to asbestos, compensation by the French compensation of victims of asbestos Fund (FIVA) and in some cases allowance for early cessation of work.