Pleural plaques are a type of scarring found in the parietal pleura. This area is the outer lining surrounding the lung. They are almost always caused by asbestos exposure, although they do not occur in everyone who has been exposed to it.
They are white, smooth, irregular shaped sections of tissue made of collagen. They sometimes have asbestos fibers within them and can become calcified. If they do become calcified, they are more likely to show up on a scan.
The size of these areas can vary but, when they’re larger, it’s more likely that there will also be asbestos fibers within the lungs as well. Even if this scar tissue is not found in the parietal pleura, there still may be fibers within the lungs.
The problem will typically show up about twenty years after exposure. They occur in around half of the people who have been exposed to asbestos over a period of time. They are discovered through radiographs or CT scans as they are not associated with any particular symptoms.
They are benign, do not become cancerous and are not on their own a sign of asbestos related lung disease. Once they do occur, they can get worse even without further exposure. Although not a sign of other diseases, many people who have them do develop other types of diseases related to the substance as well.
At one point in time, it was thought that they formed because asbestos fibers caused scars when they penetrated the visceral pleura. Now, it is thought that the lymph system carries the fibers there and that the plaques form due to an immune system response.
Pleural plaques themselves don’t have much impact on health and, as long as they are not inhibiting lung function, don’t need treating. However, they can be an indication that the person’s health needs to be monitored to catch any other problems as soon as they occur.
You may have ground to pursue a claim for pleural plaques compensation if you were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. if this is the case an asbestos solicitor will be able to advise.
Mesothelioma is one of the rarest forms of cancer, although more and more people are developing it today. The protective lining covering major body organs are affected when this strikes, such as the stomach, heart, and lungs. Because asbestos is the primary cause, it may take up to 40 years before it is discovered. That is why those who have worked with asbestos need to ask, what is mesothelioma and could I have it?
This form of cancer can begin to develop as soon as one inhales or ingests asbestos fibers. After those fibers enter the body, they attach to the linings of major organs. As time passes, inflammation occurs and tumors develop. Because the tumors show no symptoms until they reach an advanced stage, prognosis is poor and there are few treatment options.
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos or worked with it in the past may be in danger of already having this disease, even if they have no symptoms. The symptoms that do occur are so close to symptoms of over conditions, it is difficult to diagnose. In addition to that, there are many instances when this form of cancer is overlooked completely.
The only way to find out if one has this disease is through regular checkups of asbestos exposure, especially since there are no early symptoms. The most common organ affected is the lungs, but the lining of the stomach and heart can also be affected. Symptoms can include swallowing difficulty, shortness of breath, palpitations, persistent coughs, weight loss, nausea, and fatigue.
Despite how common it is becoming, no cure is available at this time, although alternative therapies and experimental treatments are available. In most cases, a patient will undergo surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy to relieve their symptoms and improve the quality of life. There are times when those treatments can cause remission to prolong life.
How effective treatment is can come down to a person’s age and their overall health when detected. However, research is still being done in trying to find more effective treatments for those with late stage cancer. Because this disease takes so long and is hard to detect, anyone that has been exposed to asbestos should ask their doctor, what is mesothelioma and could I have it?
if you think you have grounds for a mesothelioma claim then specialist asbestos solicitors EAD can help.