Pleural Thickening and Asbestos
One of the first symptoms that doctors look for when diagnosing pleural mesothelioma is thickening of the pleural wall. Pleural thickening, or pleurisy, is the result of scarring or inflammation in the pleura that causes the area to thicken and reduces breathing function. The pleura is the protective tissue between the outside of the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity.
Pleural plaques, pleural effusions or pleural thickening are the three symptoms that suggest the possible formation of a malignant disease. Pleural effusion is the build-up of fluid in the space between the lungs and the chest wall. This condition leads to discomfort while breathing and the development of more serious diseases.
Medical research has linked the inhalation of asbestos fibers to the development of pleural plaques. Pleural plaques are firm, possibly calcified lesions that manifest themselves in the pleura. Sufficient documentation has led these lesions to be widely accepted as the result of asbestos exposure.
Pleural thickening does not always signify an asbestos-related disease. A number of other diseases including empyema, hemothorax, fibrinous pleuritis and pulmonary embolisms display signs of pleural thickening. After someone is first exposed to asbestos, 10 to 15 years may pass before pleural thickening occurs.
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Pleural Thickening Diagnostic Process
When diagnosing pleural thickening, physicians will utilize a computerized tomography (CT scan) or a chest radiograph (CXR). In some cases, a positron emission tomography (PET scan) will be used to ascertain the locations of pleural thickening. Doctors may be able to provide early prognosis information to mesothelioma patients through the simultaneous use of PET and CT scans.
Doctors are able to differentiate malignant pleural thickening as the result of mesothelioma from benign pleural thickening. Irregular thickening can be easily distinguished if the area in the pleura is denser than 1 cm. In a study of 74 patients with pleural thickening, 11 of whom had malignant mesothelioma, nodular and mediastinal thickening was seen in over 50 percent of patients.
Treating Pleural Thickening
Patients who are experiencing pleural thickening will often encounter breathlessness and chest pain when trying to breathe. Doctors can prescribe pain medications such as bronchodilators, steroids and antibiotics to make breathing easier for patients. When a patient is experiencing fluid build-up, procedures such as a thoracentesis are used to alleviate pressure. During a thoracentesis, a thin needle is inserted in the pleural space to aspirate fluid.
Surgery to remove the affected area in the pleura is also an option for many patients that do not have an advanced case of mesothelioma. A groundbreaking procedure from Dr. Robert Cameron, called a Pleurectomy/Decortification, is a less radical approach that involves the surgical removal of only the tumor and the pleura. This procedure enables patients to free the affected lung and breathe easier.
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The Queen of Disco Donna Summer died on Thursday in her Naples, Florida, home after a quiet battle with lung cancer.
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Thoracic surgeon Robert Cameron, M.D., used his second annual Symposium for Lung-Sparing Therapies for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma last week in Los ..
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Last Modified Thursday, May 10th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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