Bronchogenic carcinoma is cancer that arises from the cells lining the airways (bronchi) of the lungs. It is the medical term for the most common form of lung cancer and includes both small cell and non-small cell types. Asbestos exposure is a well-established cause, and the risk rises sharply when asbestos exposure is combined with cigarette smoking.
Origin
From the Greek bronchos (windpipe) plus the suffix -genic (originating from), and carcinoma, a cancer of epithelial tissue, from the Greek karkinos (crab). The term came into medical use as pathologists learned to distinguish tumors arising in the bronchi from other cancers of the chest in the early 20th century.
Significance in Asbestos Context
Asbestos-related bronchogenic carcinoma looks the same under the microscope as smoking-related lung cancer, so establishing the asbestos link often depends on your exposure history and sometimes on evidence of asbestosis or an elevated fiber burden in lung tissue. The disease usually appears decades after first exposure. Asbestos and tobacco act together, multiplying rather than simply adding to the risk, which matters both medically and in a claim. Because the cancer isn't visually unique, careful documentation of occupational history and any markers of asbestos disease supports both the diagnosis and the case.
Example Sentence
After a lifetime of shipyard work, his bronchogenic carcinoma was linked to asbestos exposure, and his pathology report noted asbestos bodies in the surrounding lung tissue.
Related Terms
Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Synergistic Effect, Latency Period, Asbestos Body, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Notes
- Ask your doctor whether lung tissue was examined for asbestos bodies or fibers, which can strengthen the connection to asbestos.
- Give a full smoking history to your medical and legal team; the asbestos-tobacco interaction affects treatment and claim value, and does not bar a claim.
- Preserve pathology slides and reports, which may need independent review to confirm the asbestos link.
In the research library
66 studies in our medical research library mention Bronchogenic Carcinoma in the title or abstract. Among the most cited:
- Unsuspected exposure to asbestos and bronchogenic carcinomaK.M. Martischnig, D.J. Newell, W.C. Barnsley, et al, 1977 · British Medical Journal · cited 58 times
- Association of asbestos and bronchogenic carcinoma in a population with low asbestos exposureM.L. Warnock, A.M. Churg, 1975 · Cancer · cited 54 times
- Asbestosis associated with bronchogenic carcinomaR. Stoll, R. Bass, A.A. Angrist, 1951 · A.M.A. Archives of Internal Medicine · cited 19 times
- Asbestos, an extrinsic factor in the pathogenesis of bronchogenic carcinoma and mesotheliomaW.M. O'Donnell, R.H. Mann, J.L. Grosh, 1966 · Cancer · cited 17 times
- Occupational and environmental causes of bronchogenic carcinomaB.M. Haus, H. Razavi, W.G. Kuschner, 2001 · Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine · cited 9 times
The journals that publish most on it: Environmental Health Perspectives (6), Chest (3), Carcinogenesis (2).
Category: Diseases & Conditions · All Lexicon terms A–Z
This page is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every asbestos case turns on its own facts, exposure history, diagnosis, deadlines, available evidence, and applicable law. Reviewing this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, call 833-4-ASBESTOS for a free case review.