Tuberculosis, a Frequent Misdiagnosis of Veterans' Asbestos Disease

Before the mid-1980s, asbestos was prevalent in most industries, and many manufacturing companies and those producing asbestos products carefully hid the dangers of inhaling asbestos dust. As a consequence, military personnel, especially those who served in the Navy, were at risk of inhaling or ingesting dangerous amounts of asbestos fibers and developing diseases related to them.

The link between prolonged asbestos exposure and various lung diseases has been demonstrated over time by multiple studies, and correlations were discovered between exposure to this toxic mineral and other serious diseases, including cancer. Moreover, the CDC's statistics have identified an association between pulmonary tuberculosis and asbestosis, as pulmonary tuberculosis is diagnosed together with asbestosis in up to 36% of cases.

In veterans with a history of asbestos exposure, misdiagnosis or delays in diagnosis are common, as most asbestos lung diseases mimic clinical as well as radiological features of tuberculosis. It is why, many times, a tuberculosis diagnosis happens before doctors can identify the signs of an asbestos disease. Still, it is essential to note that tuberculosis doesn't make veterans eligible to file a claim for asbestos exposure, as the disease does not have a solid link to asbestos exposure.

Tuberculosis Can Be Easily Mistaken for Benign Pleural Disease

Due to collagen deposits in the lungs that tend to calcify, benign pleural disease is often mistaken for tuberculosis. However, there is no direct link between this illness and asbestos exposure, and there will not be any signs or symptoms suggesting that the plaque visible on imaging tests could be malignant lesions in most cases. Benign pleural disease is common among those exposed to asbestos and develops in nearly half of those with significant amounts of asbestos fibers in their lungs. Nevertheless, plaque formations become apparent only after one or two decades from exposure and are nearly invisible on an X-ray; only 50% are found on a CT scan.

Since effusions may also develop over time, diseases of the pleura are tricky to spot. When exudative pleural effusions develop, a biopsy may be the diagnostic tool that shows whether the condition is tuberculosis. Moreover, if there's pain, then there is a possibility that the disease is malignant mesothelioma, which often remains undiagnosed until it reaches advanced stages and makes the prognosis very poor. In most cases, mesothelioma symptoms are likely mistaken for other conditions, such as :

• tuberculosis
• pneumonia
• influenza

Some similarities that make mesothelioma often misdiagnosed as tuberculosis are that both these conditions:

• rarely occur
• cause difficulty swallowing
• are accompanied by coughing up blood
• manifest lumps under the skin on the chest

Moreover, both conditions manifest symptoms generally associated with asbestos diseases, such as:

• chest pain
• night sweats
• shortness of breath
• persistent dry cough
• unexpected weight loss
• fatigue

In most cases, tuberculosis induces acute pleuritis that usually leads to diffuse pleural thickening, a condition similar to asbestos-related pleural thickening. This is why asbestos-related pleural thickening is misinterpreted as tuberculosis. Differentiating between tuberculosis and asbestos-related lung diseases may be challenging even for experts. For this reason, veterans should seek a second opinion, preferably from a pulmonologist specializing in asbestos-related diseases.

A Second Opinion Is Critical in Diagnosing Asbestos Diseases

Misdiagnosis is common in asbestos-exposure victims because of the similarity of symptoms with other less severe respiratory disorders. Most doctors misinterpret the signs because of this similarity and conclude inaccurate diagnoses followed by inappropriate treatments, consuming valuable time when time is of the essence. Situations like this can be avoided by scheduling a second or even a third doctor's opinion outside the VA, along with being forthcoming about the chances of asbestos exposure on Navy ships built before the 1980s. Mentioning the risk of exposure can result in an accurate check-up and could discover non-cancerous asbestos diseases like:

• pulmonary fibrosis
• asbestosis
• recurrent pneumonia
• emphysema
• rounded atelectasis
• chronic bronchitis
• pleural effusion
• pleural plaques
• pleural thickening
• COPD
• lung nodules and spots
• asthma

Although benign asbestos diseases don't qualify a veteran for compensation, they may develop into cancer and should be kept under observation. Chest X-rays and pulmonary function tests can spot malignant transformations, and an asbestos cancer diagnosis will qualify veterans for claims. It's important to note that eligibility has a statute of limitations of up to five years from the date of diagnosis. Family members of deceased veterans can file a claim for three years from the date of the loved one's passing.

Assisting Navy Veterans by Connecting Them With an Experienced Lawyer

Former personnel of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Transport Service, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine who served between World War II and the late 1970s diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer are entitled to receive compensation from the asbestos trust funds and the VA if they have proof of asbestos exposure and medical documents stating one of these conditions:

• pharyngeal cancer
• colorectal cancer
• mesothelioma
• laryngeal cancer
• esophageal cancer
• urogenital cancer
• bronchial cancer
• lung cancer
• gastrointestinal cancer

Even if asbestos lawsuits are complicated, an attorney specializing in asbestos cases and with professional expertise in the field can significantly help. If you are in a state of health that is too poor to participate in the legal process, a family member can assist�in gathering the necessary documents to support your claim. We can help by putting you in contact with legal specialists who can help you receive the indemnification you deserve for your pain and suffering.