Analysis of the cores of ferruginous (asbestos) bodies from the general population. II. True asbestos bodies and pseudoasbestos bodies
Churg, A.; Warnock, M.L.; Green, N.
Laboratory Investigation; a Journal of Technical Methods and Pathology 40(1): 31-38
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-6837 PMID: 762953 Document Number: 3779
The cores of the vast majority of ferruginous bodies isolated from lungs of members of the general population contain amphibole asbestos. All of the bodies previously analyzed possessed optically transparent straight cores; these were designated typical ferruginous bodies. Other forms with unusual cores labeled atypical were encountered. Samples of lung were examined from 9 patients who had typical and atypical bodies; these ferruginous bodies encompassed the entire morphologic spectrum of ferruginous bodies. A total of 83 bodies was selected by light microscopy and analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction and electron microprobe. Of the total, 43 bodies contained asbestos cores; included in this group were bodies with unusual branched and curved transparent cores. Microprobe analysis demonstrated that some of the cores were amosite or crocidolite asbestos, whereas other were anthophyllite. Of the remaining 40 bodies, 22 with black cores were amorphous by electron diffraction and contained no elements with atomic number greater than 10 (probe detection limit); most likely these cores are carbon. Thirteen bodies with platy or fibrous yellow cores produced pseudohexagonal diffraction patterns consistent with sheet silicates. Very broad ferruginous bodies apparently formed on diatomaceous earth were also observed. Ferruginous bodies with nonabestos cores (pseudoasbestos bodies) do exist in the general population, and true and pseudoasbestos bodies can be separated using light microscopy.
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