Pleural Plaque Disease, Pleural Plaque Radiology Reference Article Radiopaedia Org

If you have pleural plaques it doesnt mean that.

Jacoby jones. Pleural plaques do not become malignant. Pleural plaques are areas of hyalinized collagen fibers and form in the pleura. Epidemiology pleural plaques are strongly associated with inhalational exposure to asbestos.

While exposure to asbestos does mean that there is a risk of developing serious lung conditions such as mesothelioma lung cancer or asbestosis the scientific evidence is that having pleural plaques does not increase that risk and nor do pleural plaques develop into those more serious conditions. Pleural plaques sometimes referred to as hyaline pleural plaques are a common sign of asbestos exposure. These plaques occur when collagen is deposited on the pleura in response to asbestos exposure.

Being exposed to asbestos does increase your risk of developing a serious lung condition such as asbestosis mesothelioma or lung cancer. Pleural plaques are evidence of past asbestos exposure and it is the asbestos exposure itself that can cause more severe disease. Imaging scans may show pleural plaques 20 to 30 years after long term inhalation of asbestos fibers.

There are several disorders and complications that can occur within the pleural area and the surrounding tissues in the lung. Their appearance has been likened to holly leaves sunburst patterns geographic patterns or stippled or irregular structures. Unlike other asbestos related diseases like mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer pleural plaques are always considered non cancerous or benign.

Rare visceral pleural plaques that occur in interlobar fissures can mimic pulmonary nodules. In some patients the latency period is less than 10 years. Pleural plaques are the most common manifestation of asbestos related disease and can be identified with a very high degree of specificity with ct.

They are the most common sign of asbestos exposure. Asbestos related pleural thickening is a fibrous layer of tissue covering a significant portion of the pleura. But there is no scientific evidence that having pleural plaques increases the risk any further.

Asbestos related pleural thickening and detection. You have a more serious disease at the moment. Pleural plaques are essentially scars affecting the lungs and pleural membranes.

Plaques often do not produce noticeable symptoms and are typically detected only during routine screenings of asbestos exposed individuals or by chance during x rays or ct scans taken for other reasons. Pleural disease this review discusses the substantial advances that have been made in our understanding of pleural biology and related pathophysiology as well as in the epidemiology and treatment. A diagnosis of pleural plaques does not mean that a more serious disease will develop.