Presentation
Persistent cough. Mild dyspnea. Works with spray paint.
Patient Data
Bilateral discrete calcified pleural plaques along the costal and diaphragmatic pleura but sparing the costophrenic angles.
Multiple raised pleural plaques.
Lung windows (not shown) did not show fibrosis
Stable pleural plaques.
Large volume lungs and flattened diaphragm.
Case Discussion
Discrete calcified pleural plaques are a marker for asbestos exposure and are asymptomatic. Other complications of asbestos exposure may be present such as fibrosis (asbestosis), lung cancer or mesothelioma.
Additional contributor: Dra María José Durango De La Ossa , radiology resident at Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, Havana, Cuba.