Development and Factors Related to the Appearance of Diaphragmatic Pleural Calcifications Follow up Study of Employees in an Asbestos Plant

• Published in: Nihon Kyōbu Shikkan Gakkai zasshi Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 230 - 237
• Main Authors: Tamura, Moka, Kasuga, Hirotomo, Nishikawa, Kiyoshi, Narita, Nobuhiro, Sada, Kazuo, Miyazaki, Ryuji, Saito, Nobuteru, Mikami, Riichiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan The Japanese Respiratory Society 01.02.1992
• Subjects: Adult; Asbestos - adverse effects; Asbestos exposure; Calcinosis - diagnostic imaging; Calcinosis - etiology; Calcinosis - pathology; Diaphragm; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational Diseases - pathology; Pleural calcification; Pleural Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Pleural Diseases - etiology; Pleural Diseases - pathology; Pleural plaque; Radiography; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0301-1542; 1883-471X
• DOI: 10.11389/jjrs1963.30.230

Seventy-eight subjects who had continuously worked for more than 25 years until 1985 in an asbestos plant were investigated for diaphragmatic pleural lesions (mainly calcifications) on chest roentgenograms. Diaphragmatic pleural lesions were found in 21 cases (32 sites). Among these cases, calcifications were found in 18 cases (26 sites) and bilateral calcifications in 8 cases. In retrospective observation, 19 sites initially showed diaphragmatic protuberant shadows, and of these, 13 sites subsequently showed calcifications in the same positions. The duration between first exposure and appearance of calcification ranged from 15 years to 31 years. The duration of exposure was significantly correlated to the appearance of diaphragmatic pleural calcification, whereas age, smoking habit, and exposure level showed no significant correlation.