Pleural and Pericardial Plaques in Asbestos Exposure

Abstract

Asbestos is a generic term for a group of naturally occurring fibers composed of hydrated magnesium silicate minerals. Transported worldwide to shipyards and factories, it is a material that was widely used in construction, mining, and manufacturing. Exposure to asbestos can cause significant benign and malignant lung, pleural, and pericardial disease. Usually asymptomatic, pleural plaques are the most common radiologic manifestation of asbestos exposure. We report a case of a man who presented with heart failure exacerbation and was incidentally found to have pleural and pericardial plaques from asbestos exposure.