[Apical pleural fibrosis related to inhalation of asbestos fibers].
The involvement of the apical pleura is infrequent in diffuse pleural thickening secondary to asbestos exposure. Most often diffuse pleural thickening is accompanied by an obliteration of the costophrenic angle and the posterior and paraspinous pleural surfaces of the pleura are involved to the greatest extent. Unlike this typical form, we observed in five patients exposed to asbestos an apical pleural fibrosis, uni or bilateral, accompanied with lung retraction, hilar ascension and tracheal attraction. Apical pleural thickening with upper lobe changes in asbestos-exposed persons should be regarded as due to the asbestos exposure, after exclusion of other causes like tuberculosis and the apex tumors. Usually the evolution of the lesions is slowly progressive over several years or even decade, and results in mild restrictive defect.
Payerne
D
D
Service de Pneumologie-Oncologie-Allergologie, Centre Hospitalier, Saint-Nazaire.
Pioche
D
D
Chailleux
E
E
D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic
D002273:Carcinogens; D001194:Asbestos