Asbestos related diffuse pleural thickening

Last revised by Yuranga Weerakkody on 13 May 2022

Asbestos related diffuse pleural thickening is a form of asbestos-related benign pleural disease and may occur with or without asbestos related fibrosis

Pathology

They may co-exist with pleural plaques but if thought to occur from a different pathology.

Generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, profibrotic cytokines and growth factors in response to asbestos is likely to play a role in the formation of a fibrinous intrapleural matrix 1.

Associations

Differential diagnosis

  • pleural mesothelioma: has invasive features
    • in concerning cases serial CT imaging or PET-CT may play a role in differentiation.

For a broader differential, consider other forms of diffuse pleural thickening.

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