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Pleural Plaques

As with pleural mesothelioma, the development of pleural plaques is nearly always an indication of asbestos exposure. Pleural plaques are areas of calcification on either the lining of the lungs, chest wall or diaphragm. In some cases, a person’s breathing may not be affected at all. However, if the plaques have thickened to an extent where lung function is affected, breathing may become more difficult. A patient may experience a cough or shortness of breath as well.

Asbestos Exposure and Detection

Exposure to asbestos results after someone has inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers. In the majority of cases, exposure occurs in an occupational setting such as when a construction or shipyard worker is performing a task. Within these industries, it is common for workers to repair or remove asbestos-containing materials. Once these materials are disturbed, microscopic asbestos fibers have the potential to become airborne where they can be inhaled. Once inhaled, these fibers typically attach to the lining of the lungs and are unable to be expelled from the body.

Detecting pleural plaques is often done in a very similar way to other asbestos-related conditions. Chest X-rays will reveal pleural plaques as white and gray areas as long as they are not too thin. In some cases, pleural plaques may resemble the shape and size of a tumor when analyzing them under an X-ray or CT scan and physicians can make a misdiagnosis. It is always recommended to receive a second opinion when trying to diagnose a condition related to asbestos exposure.

Sources

1. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/asbestos/tests2.html
2. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts61.html