title: Significant relationship between the extent of pleural plaques and pulmonary asbestos body concentration in lung cancer patients with occupational asbestos exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to elucidate whether there is a relationship between the extent of pleural plaques and pulmonary asbestos body concentration (PABC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 207 lung cancer patients with occupational asbestos exposure. We determined the plaque extent by findings on chest images using our own criteria. PABCs were measured in resected or autopsy lung specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant relationship between plaque extent and PABC. Seventy-five percent of the patients determined to have extensive plaques based on our criteria had a PABC of ≥5,000 asbestos bodies per gram of dry lung tissue, which is one of the certification criteria of lung cancer caused by asbestos for workers' compensation in Japan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In lung cancer patients, the plaque extent had a significant positive relationship with the PABC. The plaque extent would be useful as a proxy for PABC for lung cancer compensation purposes.
authors: Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Asbestos Disease Center, Chiba Rosai Hospital, Ichihara, Japan.
authors: Toshikazu
authors: T
authors: Yusa
authors: Kenzo
authors: K
authors: Hiroshima
authors: Fumikazu
authors: F
authors: Sakai
authors: Takumi
authors: T
authors: Kishimoto
authors: Kazuo
authors: K
authors: Ohnishi
authors: Ikuji
authors: I
authors: Usami
authors: Tetsuyuki
authors: T
authors: Morikawa
authors: Di
authors: D
authors: Wu
authors: Kazumi
authors: K
authors: Itoi
authors: Kenzo
authors: K
authors: Okamoto
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Shinohara
authors: Norihiko
authors: N
authors: Kohyama
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Morinaga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014942:Workers' Compensation
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos
keywords: asbestos bodies; asbestos exposure; chest images; pleural plaques; workers'compensation