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
- benign asbestos related pleural effusions: can commonly antedate the development of diffuse pleural thickening 1
Differential diagnosis
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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.