Document jg9jaRJYZ99YKMeorbY7NgvZ5

Dr. J. Churg ABSTRACT Monday, November 27, 1978 PLEURAL PLAQUES AND FIBROSIS Pleural effusion Is not an uncommon complication of pulmonary asbestosls. It tends to be self-limited though sometimes may be recurrent. Pleural adhesions are relatively uncommon. Thickening of visceral pleura may be quite striking but is seen less commonly than plaques of the parietal pleura. Both types of lesions consist of dense rather acellular connective tissue, and are located mainly in the lower two-thirds of the pleural space. MESOTHELIOMA Mesothelioma occurs in two forms: localized fibrous type which is usually benign and apparently unrelated to asbestos exposure; and diffuse type which may be epithelial or spindle cell or mixed, and which is closely associated with asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is a rapidly progressive disease leading to death in a period of several months or a year, though some prolongation of life may be expected with appropriate therapy. A few cases have a slow course over a period of years. LUNG CANCER The frequency of lung cancer is increased in people exposed to asbestos. This increase becomes striking in those who also smoke. The histological types of cancer are similar to those in the general population, though adenocarcinoma seems to be somewhat more frequent. Asbestos-associated cancer tends to be located in the lower lobes and to occupy a peripheral position. J ASARCO ALV 0001444 The Environmental Sciences Laboratory (Department of Community Medicine)and The Page and William Black Post-Graduate School of Medicine of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (CUNY) ASBESTOS-ASSOCIATED DISEASE with particular reference to United States Shipyards November 27,28 and 29,1978 under the Direction of Kaye H. Kilburn, M.D. and Irving J. Selikoff, M.D. I ASARCO ALV 0001443