Which asbestos-related condition is characterized by scarring of lung tissue?

The condition characterized by scarring of lung tissue due to asbestos exposure is asbestosis. This is a specific type of pneumoconiosis that results from the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Over time, these fibers cause inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) in the lung tissue. The progressive scarring can lead to difficulties in breathing and reduced lung function, which are hallmark symptoms of asbestosis.

Although pneumoconiosis is a broader term that includes various types of lung diseases caused by inhalation of different irritants, asbestosis specifically refers to the lung scarring due to asbestos. Interstitial lung disease can also include a variety of lung conditions that involve the interstitium (the tissue and space around the air sacs of the lungs), but asbestosis is distinct because it is directly linked to asbestos exposure and results in fibrotic changes.

Bronchitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes and does not specifically involve scarring of lung tissue, making it less relevant to this question.