Ads
related to: pleural thickening
Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Pleural thickening is an increase in the bulkiness of one or both of the pulmonary pleurae. Causes. Category Disease [1] Features [1] Infection: After empyema:
CT scans can more readily differentiate whether pleural thickening is due to extra fat deposition or true pleural thickening than X-rays. [3] If a fibrothorax is severe, the thickening may restrict the lung on the affected side causing a loss of lung volume. [7] Additionally, the mediastinum may be physically shifted toward the affected side. [3]
Radiologists must be aware of these conditions in order to avoid misdiagnosing patients. Examples of such lesions are: pleural plaques, thoracic splenosis, catamenial pneumothorax, pleural pseudotumor, diffuse pleural thickening, diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis and Erdheim–Chester disease. [1]
Asbestos-related diseases are disorders of the lung and pleura caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres. Asbestos-related diseases include non-malignant disorders such as asbestosis (pulmonary fibrosis due to asbestos), diffuse pleural thickening, pleural plaques, pleural effusion, rounded atelectasis and malignancies such as lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.
Pleural tumors may be benign (i.e. solitary fibrous tumor) or malignant in nature. Pleural mesothelioma is a type of malignant cancer associated with asbestos exposure. Under most other circumstances, pleural cancers are secondary malignancies associated with lung cancer due to its nearby location or as metastasis such as with breast cancer.
Diagrammatic view of exaggerated pleural space. Cytology of the normal mesothelial cells that line the pleurae, with typical features. [3] Wright's stain.. Each pleura comprises a superficial serosa made of a simple monolayer of flat (squamous) or cuboidal mesothelial cells with microvilli up to 6 μm (0.00024 in) long.
Pleural thickening - Irregularity or abnormal prominence of the pleural margin, including apical capping (thickening of the pleura in the apical region). Pleural thickening can be calcified. Diaphragmatic tenting - A localized accentuation of the normal convexity of the hemidiaphragm as if "pulled upwards by a string."
Pleural Abnormalities: Pleural abnormalities are reported with respect to type (pleural plaques or diffuse pleural thickening), location (chest wall, diaphragm, or other), presence of calcification , width (only of in profile pleural thickening seen along the chest wall edge), and extent (combined distance for involved chest wall).
Ads
related to: pleural thickening