Asbestos-Related Pleural and Pulmonary Disease

A practical radiology review of Asbestos-Related Pleural and Pulmonary Disease, focused on imaging findings, differential diagnosis, reporting points, and high-yield teaching pearls.

Benign Pleural Effusion

• Usually hemorrhagic exudate
• ⏳ Can occur early (within ~10 yrs) but also much later
• No asbestos bodies in fluid ‼
• Often resolves, but → diffuse pleural thickening later
• Diagnosis = exclude other exudative causes

Pleural Plaques (MOST common)

• ⏱ Latency: 20–30 yrs

CLASSIC distribution (MEMORIZE!)