Asbestos pleural effusion: a clinical entity.

Abstract

In a case-control study asbestos exposure in 64 consecutive men with idiopathic pleural effusion and 129 randomly sampled age matched male controls was compared. Furthermore, seven women and 64 men with idiopathic pleural effusion were studied, including a three year re-examination, in an attempt to identify characteristics that might distinguish asbestos exposed from non-exposed patients. Asbestos exposure was significantly (p < 0-01) more frequent in men with idiopathic effusions than in controls. The idiopathic effusions seen in asbestos exposed patients were compatible with the diagnosis "asbestos pleural effusion." Two features were characteristic of patients with asbestos pleural effusion: a chest radiograph at the initial examination showing converging pleural linear structures or rounded atelectasis or a history of recurrent pleural effusion, or both.

Asbestos‐related pleural diseases: Dimensional criteria are not appropriate to differentiate diffuse pleural thickening from pleural plaques

“…However, there is now a large consensus that DPT is the radiographic expression of thickening and fibrosis of the visceral pleura, often associated with fusion of the parietal pleura, following clearance of benign asbestos-related pleural effusion [Hillerdal et al, 1990;Schwartz, 1991;Solomon, 1991;Miller et al, 1993;Rudd, 1996;Consensus Report, 1997;Gevenois et al, 1998;Chailleux and Letourneux, 1999;Peacock et al, 2000]. Several studies have confirmed that DPT is preceded by a benign asbestos pleural effusion [Martensson et al, 1987;Miller and Miller, 1993]. Obliteration of the costophrenic angle represents the sequela of pleural effusion.…”

Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Pleural Diseases

“…It is a common asbestos-related pleuropulmonary abnormality during the first 20 years following exposure; however, it may occur from 1 to 60 years from initial exposure [3,4,5]. BAPE is defined as an effusion that occurs in the setting of asbestos exposure, in the absence of other conditions, and is not followed by the development of malignancy within 3 years [6]. Using this definition, Epler et al [3] reported an incidence of 9.2, 3.9 and 0.7 effusions per 1,000 person-years after heavy, moderate and mild asbestos exposure, respectively.…”

Imaging of Asbestos-Related Thoracic Disease

“…30 The latency of benign asbestos-related pleural effusion is often shorter than that of other asbestos-related pleural disease: it frequently occurs within the first 10 years after initial asbestos exposure. A recent report emphasized that benign asbestos-related pleural effusions are likely to be associated with rounded atelectasis and with linear fibrotic strands radiating to the surrounding lung 31 (Fig. 8).…”