Pleural plaques are a kind of scar tissue within the parietal pleura. This is the outer lining that surrounds the lung. They are caused by asbestos exposure in almost every case, however, they are not present in every person who has had such exposure.
These sections of tissue are smooth, white and irregularly shaped. Made up of collagen, they sometimes also have fibers of asbestos in them and may become calcified. When they are calcified, they will show up more easily on a scan.
The size of these formations is variable but, when they're larger, it is more common to find asbestos fibers within the lungs as well. It is possible to find fibers in the lungs, though, even if there is none of this type of scarring in the parietal pleura.
The problem will typically show up about twenty years after exposure. They occur in around half of the people who have been exposed to asbestos over a period of time. They are discovered through radiographs or CT scans as they are not associated with any particular symptoms.
This tissue formation is benign, it does not turn into cancer and do not signify that lung disease relating to asbestos is present. Once it occurs, it can get worse even if there is no more exposure. While it isn't a sign of other diseases, a lot of people who have it will also have other diseases relating to asbestos.
In the past, it was believed that they formed because of scarring from asbestos fibers penetrating the visceral pleura. Now, though, it's believed that the fibers are brought there by the lymph system and the plaques are formed through an immune system response.
Pleural plaques don't impact a person's health much on their own. So long as lung function is not inhibited, they do not require treatment. They can, however, indicated that the person should keep monitoring his or her health so that an other problems are discovered as soon as they occur.
These sections of tissue are smooth, white and irregularly shaped. Made up of collagen, they sometimes also have fibers of asbestos in them and may become calcified. When they are calcified, they will show up more easily on a scan.
The size of these formations is variable but, when they're larger, it is more common to find asbestos fibers within the lungs as well. It is possible to find fibers in the lungs, though, even if there is none of this type of scarring in the parietal pleura.
The problem will typically show up about twenty years after exposure. They occur in around half of the people who have been exposed to asbestos over a period of time. They are discovered through radiographs or CT scans as they are not associated with any particular symptoms.
This tissue formation is benign, it does not turn into cancer and do not signify that lung disease relating to asbestos is present. Once it occurs, it can get worse even if there is no more exposure. While it isn't a sign of other diseases, a lot of people who have it will also have other diseases relating to asbestos.
In the past, it was believed that they formed because of scarring from asbestos fibers penetrating the visceral pleura. Now, though, it's believed that the fibers are brought there by the lymph system and the plaques are formed through an immune system response.
Pleural plaques don't impact a person's health much on their own. So long as lung function is not inhibited, they do not require treatment. They can, however, indicated that the person should keep monitoring his or her health so that an other problems are discovered as soon as they occur.
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For more details head to the site of asbestos solicitor EAD, who have years of experience handling pleural plaques compensation claims.
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