Benign asbestos-related pleural disease

Pleural plaques by inhalation of asbestos fibers

Introduction

Asbestos fiber pleural plaque is characterized by lesions composed of fibrous tissue that are located in the parietal pleura. They usually appear in up to 3 to 58% of workers who were exposed to asbestos fiber, and 0.5 to 8% in the general population. The objective of this article is to present a case report of a patient whose chest x-ray showed pleural changes associated with exposure to asbestos fibers.

Case report

A 49-year-old male patient, construction worker with a history of exposure to asbestos fibers, underwent a chest x-ray performed according to International Labor Organization (ILO) standards, which revealed focal pleural changes. Subsequently, the presence of pleural plaques was confirmed by computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest.

Discussion

Chest x-ray with ILO technique is the basic instrument for the identification of diseases related to asbestos fiber exposure. The study should be completed with a CT scan of the chest, whose sensitivity is greater, allowing early detection of pleural abnormalities. It is essential to obtain a detailed occupational history, since it is the most reliable and practical method to measure asbestos fiber exposure.

Mesothelioma incidence in 50 states and the District of Columbia, United States, 2003-2008

BACKGROUND

The decline in asbestos use in the United States may impact mesothelioma incidence.

OBJECTIVE

This report provides national and state-specific estimates of mesothelioma incidence in the United States using cancer surveillance data for the entire US population.

METHODS

Data from the National Program for Cancer Registries and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program were used to calculate incidence rates and annual percent change.

RESULTS

During 2003-2008, an average of 1.05 mesothelioma cases per 100 000 persons were diagnosed annually in the United States; the number of cases diagnosed each year remained level, whereas rates decreased among men and were stable among women.

CONCLUSION

US population-based cancer registry data can be used to determine the burden of mesothelioma and track its decline. Even 30 years after peak asbestos use in the United States, 3200 mesothelioma cases are diagnosed annually, showing that the US population is still at risk.