Pleural reaction associated with asbestos exposure

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Abstract
A survey of literature is presented, in which pleural reaction associated with exposure to asbestos is reported and discussed, including the significance of calcined pleural plaques, and the possibility that pleural reaction in some cases may have been the precursor of malignancy. It is suggested that “acute” and “chronic” forms of asbestosis can be distinguished, corresponding to sustained heavy exposure to asbestos, or light and in some cases intermittent exposure. An analysis of 15 patients from an asbestos-cement industry in Durban who presented with radiological evidence of pleural reaction leads to the conclusion that the lesion can reasonably be attributed to sustained light exposure to asbestos over a relatively short period of time in the majority of cases, and the suggestion is made that pleural reaction is probably the earliest sign of asbestosis produced under such circumstances. The two types of disease are illustrated by photographs.

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