An asbestos body is a histological finding in interstitial lung disease that is suggestive of significant occupational asbestos exposure. They are usually identified following a parenchymal lung biopsy 3.
Macrophage ingestion of the asbestos fibers triggers a fibrogenic response via the release of growth factors that promote collagen deposition by fibroblasts. The fibers become encased in iron-rich material derived from proteins such as ferritin and hemosiderin 5. They typically appear as brown nodules in the septum of the alveolus and may have a rod or dumbbell shape with multiple segmentations.
Asbestos bodies are just one type of ferruginous bodies that can be formed by iron encasement of inhaled inorganic dusts.