Pleural Plaques Causes, Pleural Plaques Asbestos Related Disease

They usually appear after 20 years or more of exposure and never degenerate into mesothelioma.

Cigarette smoking and lung cancer. However it is unclear exactly how asbestos fibres cause pleural plaques to develop. The exposure may be occupational or environmental. Pleural plaques most commonly develop on the parietal pleura which lines the inside of the rib cage.

Researchers have found that pleural plaques are rather exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos and most common among workers exposed to the toxin on the jobin some cases even those exposed to asbestos fibers for a short period of time also later developed pleural plaques. 281 high resolution ct hrct has been advocated for distinguishing these plaques from other causes of pleural thickening. However an autopsy study demonstrated that both visceral pleura and parietal pleura are involved whereas asbestos plaques typically involve the parietal pleura.

In 5 to 15 percent of cases pleural plaques become calcified. As calcium deposits build up in them the scar tissue hardens. Pleural thickening is a condition triggered by asbestos exposure that causes the pleural lining of the lungs known as the pleura to thicken with scar tissue.

When people are exposed to asbestos inhaled fibres can accumulate in the lining of the lungs and irritate the lung tissue. Pleural plaques are patchy collections of hyalinized collagen in the parietal pleura. Asbestos related pleural plaques are a common cause of pleural thickening.

In 20 of cases pleural plaques become calcified. Where do pleural plaques develop. As calcium deposits build the scar tissue hardens.

They have a holly leaf appearance on x ray. Overview asbestos exposure and pleural plaques. A ct scan which is also used to diagnose asbestosis and pleural plaques can confirm the condition earlier.

There are other less common causes of pleural plaques besides asbestos. Calcified pleural plaques rarely inhibit lung function and cause patients to have trouble breathing. 511 513 511 513 they are most likely seen along the lateral chest walls or on the diaphragmatic pleura fig 54 a and b sparing the apices.

They are indicators of asbestos exposure and the most common asbestos induced lesion. Pleural plaques are strongly associated with inhalational exposure to asbestosthere is an extremely long latency typically 20 to 30 years after the onset of exposure 1as asbestos is primarily used in construction and machinery environments asbestos related diseases in general including pleural plaques are primarily seen in men.