Benign pleural disease

Boraschi P, Neri S, Braccini G, et al. 1999. Magnetic resonance appearance of asbestos-related benign and malignant pleural diseases. Scand J Work Environ Health 25 18-23. 

McGavin C, Hughes P. 1998. Finger clubbing in malignant mesotheliom and benign asbestos pleural disease. Resp Med 92 691-692. 

Exposure to asbestos occasionally causes benign pericardial effusion, thickening, and calcification (Figs. 8.22 and 8.23) (Davies et al. 1991). These manifestations are analogous to the effects of asbestos on the pleura, and pericardial disease is usually associated with pleural disease. The pericardial thickening may result in constrictive pericarditis with functional cardiac consequences. Both anatomical and functional aspects of pericardial constriction may be demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (Al )arad et al. 1993). 

The pleura are connective tissue membranes composed of matrix, mesotheli-al cells, and fibroblasts. There are two types of pleural responses benign responses, such as thickening of the matrix, formation of plaques (which may calcify) or effusions, and fluid accumulation in the interpleural spaces between the visceral and parietal pleurae and neoplastic disease, or the malignancy known as mesothelioma. 

EPA (2003) Technical support document for a protocol to assess asbestos-related risk. EPA Documejnt 9345.4-06 Epler GR, McLoud TC, Gaensler EA (1982) Prevalence and incidence of benign asbestos pleural effusion in a working population. JAMA 247 617-622 Freiman DG, Hardy HL (1970) Beryllium disease. The relation of pulmonary pathology to clinical course and prognosis based on a study of 130 cases from the U8 Beryllium Case Registry. Hum Pathol 1 25-44... 

Benign asbestos pleural effusion may be the sole manifestation of asbestos disease, so that neither... 

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