[Asbestosis of the bladder neck and prostate. Reflections on 2 cases]

Ingested asbestos is mainly excreted in the urine. Marked impregnation of bladder neck in a patient working in an asbestos factory was diagnosed initially as a tuberculosis lesion on the granulomatous histologic appearance. Asbestos fibers were counted by electron microscopy. This appears to be the first case of this type reported and possible causal relations and histopathologic findings are discussed. Also reported is a patient with prostatic cancer, and chronic pulmonary asbestosis, treated by adenomectomy using an upper approach 15 years previously. The cancer was of the prostate transitional cell type. A causal relation could not be proved but other such cases should be investigated, to determine a possible link between the lesion and industrial fibers.