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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Can pleural plagues cause chest pain?
Answered by
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Can pleural plagues cause chest pain?
by rong, Aug 23, 2002 12:00AM
Since November 2000 I've had constant bilateral chest discomfort. Recently it has gotten worse in an area right center of chest. Cat scans show mild increases in blilateral pleural based masses or focal areas of pleural thickening from 1999 to Nov. 2000. Somewhat lobular densities are seen peripherally in both lungs. Minor blunting of the right costophenic angle. There are smooth soft tissue densities anteriorly and laterally in each hemithorax, unusually prominent. On 10/5/2000 my ht: 68 in. wt:180 FVC 3.33 FEV1 2.61 FEV1/FVC 78 TLC 5.02 FRC 2.96 RV 1.77 VC 3.25 IC 2.06 ERV 1.19 On 4/10/2002 wt: 170 FVC 3.54 FEV1 2.45 FEV1/FVC 69 TLC 3.68 FRC 2.13 RV .17 VC 3.52 IC 1.56 ERV 1.96 Blood work 2/28/2002 Sedimentation Rate H17, Antinuclear Antibody Positive ANA titer 1:160 dilution Pattern speckled. Shortness of breath on exertion. I am able to walk at a brisk pace without difficulty. I notice wheezing and rales only at bedtime in bed. Blood mixed with phlegn twice in Oct. 2000. Coughed up blood in April 2002. Phlebitis upper right arm Nov. 2000. Tendonitis left arm July 2002. Asbestos exposure 1965-1967, 1970-1975. Exposure to welding smoke, paint and chemical fumes from 1965 to present. Now very sensitive (trouble breathing, tightness in chest, dizzyness, swollen neck) to chemical fumes (methyl ethyl ketone, petroleum distillant, alcohol), smoke, and paint fumes. Diagnosed with mild reactive airway disease/asthma in Oct. 2000 and copd in Dec. 2001. My older brother (age 57) died 8-16-2002, diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2001. My questions are: can pleural plagues cause my chest pains? Can more chemical exposures worsen my condition or will it tend to remain stable?
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Sep 16, 2002 12:00AM
, Sep 16, 2002 12:00AM
In order to advise you, a doctor should examine you in person and review your medical records.
In complex lung disease cases with potential work-related exposures, we suggest that you see a doctor who specializes in pulmonology and occupational medicine. If you have confidence in your current doctor, please direct such questions to him/her. Having said that, I will try to answer your questions as best as I can.
Asbestos-related lung disease has several different manifestations. Some involve the pleura, which is the lining of the lungs. The most common manifestation of asbestos exposure is the development of what are called pleural plaques. Pleural plaques are focal collections of fibrous tissue in the lung lining. These usually develop 10 to 20 years after a person has been exposed to asbestos. Over time these plaques can calcify. Then they are more visible on chest x-rays. They rarely ever cause symptoms.
Diffuse pleural thickening is another manifestation of asbestos exposure. It is much more rare than pleural plaques. This manifestation is a more extensive scarring of the lung lining. It usually develops 20 to 30 years after asbestos exposure. This can cause shortness of breath. It can also be difficult to expand your lungs when inhaling. Diffuse pleural thickening requires regular monitoring by a lung doctor also called a pulmonologist.
As you know, Mesothelioma is a cancer that can develop in the lining of your lung in relation to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is rare. It usually occurs 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Cigarette smoking and pleural plaques do not increase a person's risk for developing this form of cancer.
From your message, it sounds as if you most likely have benign pleural plaques. This is a marker of asbestos exposure. Although, since we did not evaluate you, we cannot be certain of this.
Because you were exposed to asbestos, we would suggest that you have yearly follow-up with a doctor knowledgeable in asbestos-related lung disease. Such follow-up may include a chest x-ray and a breathing test to monitor you for the development of further asbestos-related changes.
We would need to evaluate you ourselves before we could advise you as to whether your work-related exposures caused your reactive airway disease (RAD). If exposure to chemicals is in fact the cause of your breathing symptoms, we advise that you avoid exposure to those chemicals in the future. This is especially true if the chemicals make your symptoms worse. Continued exposure to an irritant can cause worsening of your condition.
I hope this information is helpful to you.
In complex lung disease cases with potential work-related exposures, we suggest that you see a doctor who specializes in pulmonology and occupational medicine. If you have confidence in your current doctor, please direct such questions to him/her. Having said that, I will try to answer your questions as best as I can.
Asbestos-related lung disease has several different manifestations. Some involve the pleura, which is the lining of the lungs. The most common manifestation of asbestos exposure is the development of what are called pleural plaques. Pleural plaques are focal collections of fibrous tissue in the lung lining. These usually develop 10 to 20 years after a person has been exposed to asbestos. Over time these plaques can calcify. Then they are more visible on chest x-rays. They rarely ever cause symptoms.
Diffuse pleural thickening is another manifestation of asbestos exposure. It is much more rare than pleural plaques. This manifestation is a more extensive scarring of the lung lining. It usually develops 20 to 30 years after asbestos exposure. This can cause shortness of breath. It can also be difficult to expand your lungs when inhaling. Diffuse pleural thickening requires regular monitoring by a lung doctor also called a pulmonologist.
As you know, Mesothelioma is a cancer that can develop in the lining of your lung in relation to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is rare. It usually occurs 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Cigarette smoking and pleural plaques do not increase a person's risk for developing this form of cancer.
From your message, it sounds as if you most likely have benign pleural plaques. This is a marker of asbestos exposure. Although, since we did not evaluate you, we cannot be certain of this.
Because you were exposed to asbestos, we would suggest that you have yearly follow-up with a doctor knowledgeable in asbestos-related lung disease. Such follow-up may include a chest x-ray and a breathing test to monitor you for the development of further asbestos-related changes.
We would need to evaluate you ourselves before we could advise you as to whether your work-related exposures caused your reactive airway disease (RAD). If exposure to chemicals is in fact the cause of your breathing symptoms, we advise that you avoid exposure to those chemicals in the future. This is especially true if the chemicals make your symptoms worse. Continued exposure to an irritant can cause worsening of your condition.
I hope this information is helpful to you.
