Collaborative Hypertext of Radiology

asbestos lung disease

pleural plaques
- earliest finding, may be only evidence
- parietal pleura
- 15-20 yrs after exposure
- calcified after ca. 30 yrs
"asbestosis"
- interstitial lung dz
- perihilar regions --> lung bases
- "shaggy heart"
no cavitation or PMF as in silicosis
crocidolite (blue) form most carcinogenic
associated with:
- malignant pleural mesothelioma
- peritoneal mesothelioma
- GI-tract malignancy

Charles E. Kahn, Jr., MD - 2 February 1995
Last updated: 1 October 2013