Exposure to Asbestos Leads to Pleural Abnormalities and Mesothelioma

Persons with significant exposure to asbestos are at risk for developing various types of pleural (lining of the lungs) abnormalities.

These abnormalities include pleural plaques, pleural thickening, pleural calcification, and pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer which may affect the lining of the lings (plura) or the abdominal contents (peritoneum). Most mesotheliomas are caused by exposure to asbestos.