Rounded atelectasis due to asbestos exposure

On X-rays, rounded atelectasis appears as a round mass, which can easily be mistaken for a cancerous tumor.

Round atelectasis is frequently related to asbestos exposure since the fibers accumulated on the surface of the pleura can cause severe tissue scarring.

Extensive lung tissue scarring, which commonly develops within several decades after the person was exposed to asbestos, may result in round atelectasis – the collapse of an outer portion of the organ.

Pleural effusion and pleural thickening may also be present with this condition.

With a rounded atelectasis diagnosis alone, you are not eligible for compensation. But given the fact that the rate of misdiagnosis is high, and the cancer risk is high with asbestos exposure, we strongly recommend you get a second and even third opinion outside the VA. If you are diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer, you become eligible to file a claim and obtain financial compensation.

Rounded atelectasis may coexist with lung cancer

The diagnosis of round atelectasis is quite challenging due to its resemblance to a malignant tumor. Nevertheless, lung cancer can sometimes co-occur with it, which only makes it more difficult for specialists to assign a correct and complete diagnosis.

In the majority of cases, individuals suffering from round atelectasis do not experience any symptoms; hence, the crucial importance of regular screenings if you have a history of asbestos exposure. This lung condition often occurs before the onset of a more serious disease. However, depending on the severity of the lung damage, people with round atelectasis may notice one or more of the following symptoms:

difficulty breathing
wheezing
fever
coughing up blood
rapid breathing
chest pain
shortness of breath

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