title: Asbestos-related cancer risk in patients with asbestosis or pleural plaques.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationships between benign asbestos-related diseases (asbestosis and pleural plaques) and thoracic cancers are still debated. The aim of this paper was to review the epidemiological data relevant to this issue.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Published studies show a significant relationship between occupational exposure to asbestos and lung cancer risk, even in the absence of abnormalities consistent with asbestosis on the postero-anterior chest x-ray. For a given cumulative asbestos exposure, the presence of radiographic evidence of asbestosis is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Among asbestos-exposed individuals, those having radiographic evidence of pleural plaques are at increased risk for lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma, compared to the general population. However, there is no evidence that pleural plaque confers an increased risk of lung cancer or pleural mesothelioma within a population of individuals having the same cumulative asbestos exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The studies identified for this review relied only on chest radiograph data. Studies involving accurate evaluations of asbestos exposure and computed tomography of the chest are needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Currently available data indicate that patient follow-up modalities should be dictated solely by the estimated cumulative asbestos exposure and not by the existence of pleural plaques.
authors: Unité de pathologie professionnelle, hôpital Raymond-Poincaré, AP-HP, 104, Garches, France. jacques.ameille@rpc.aphp.fr
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ameille
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Brochard
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Letourneux
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Paris
authors: J-C
authors: JC
authors: Pairon
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D018450:Disease Progression; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005355:Fibrosis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos