Occupational lung disease surgery

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]

The mainstay of treatment for occupational lung disease is medical therapy. Surgery is usually reserved for patients with progressive massive fibrosis or lung cancer.

• Surgery is not the first-line treatment option for patients with occupational lung disease. Surgery is usually reserved for patients with either:^[1]
  • Progressive massive fibrosis
  • Lung cancer
  • Inflammatory lung disease

• Pneumonectomy is removal of the lung or part of the lung, and is reserved for progressive massive fibrosis or resectable lung cancer.^[1]
• Parts of the diaphragm, pericardium and pleura may also be removed, such as in the case of mesothelioma.