CTICasesAsbestos-Related Pleural Disease (with Diffuse Pleural Thickening)
Imaging findings
Radiograph and CT show exuberant, calcified pleural plaques along the diaphragm, costal pleura, and left mediastinum/left heart border. There is also bilateral diffuse pleural thickening with obliteration of the costophrenic angle on the left. High-resolution CT shows extensive plaques and diffuse pleural thickening bilaterally, with minor subpleural linear bands.
Key takeaways
Asbestos exposure leads to a mixed pattern of pleural abnormalities, including discrete calcified plaques and diffuse pleural thickening. In occupational classification systems (B-reading), diffuse pleural thickening requires obliteration of the costophrenic angle on chest radiographs, even though CT may show more extensive disease. When evaluating asbestosis (parenchymal fibrosis), care must be taken to distinguish true fibrosis from subpleural bands related to overlying plaques ("hairiness").
AI-assisted summary — may contain errors. Verify against the source video. Learn more
More from this webinar
- Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the PleuraNeoplastic
- Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Pleura (Large Mass)Neoplastic
- Unclassified B-Cell LymphomaNeoplastic
- Disseminated HistoplasmosisInfection
- Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma arising in a MyelolipomaNeoplastic
See all cases from September 15, 2023 →