Pleural plaques

Pleural plaques are strongly associated with asbestos exposure.

General

• May be due to other causes.

Other asbestos-related pleural disease:

• Diffuse pleural thickening.
• Benign asbestos-related pleural effusions (BAPEs).
• Malignant mesothelioma.

Gross

• Thickened (or calcified) plaques.
• White.

DDx:

• Metastatic carcinoma.

Microscopic

Features:

• Hyaline material +/- calcification.

Notes:

• Usually associated with asbestosis fibres in the lung (85% of cases).
  • Plaque burden seems to be associated with the number asbestos bodies found; many plaques... suggest many asbestosis bodies.

See also

• Asbestosis - lung has fibrosis.
• Malignant mesothelioma.
• Ferruginous bodies.