Hyaline | Hyaline
TumefactiveHyalinePleuralPlaquesHyalinepleuralplaques(HPPs)areimportantbecauseoftheirvalueasmarkersofabove-backgroundasbestosexposure(Fig.19.35).Moreover,theyoccasionallymaysimulatetheradiographicandpathologicappearancesofselectedmesothelialneoplasmsormetastasesofmalignanttumorsinthepleuralspace.Manystudieshavelinkedasbestosexposuretotheemergenceoffibrohyalineplaques(Fig.19.36).157-163Thereisalsoavariablebutgenerallylowincidenceoftheselesionsinroutinenecropsies.Asbestosfibersareabsentinthepl...
Tumefactive Hyaline Pleural PlaquesHyaline pleural plaques (HPPs) are important because of their value as markers of above-background asbestos exposure (Fig. 19.35). Moreover, they occasionally may simulate the radiographic and pathologic appearances of selected mesothelial neoplasms or metastases of malignant tumors in the pleural space.
Many studies have linked asbestos exposure to the emergence of fibrohyaline plaques (Fig. 19.36).157-163 There is also a variable but generally low incidence of these lesions in routine necropsies. Asbestos fibers are absent in the plaques themselves, and, if present, are seen only in the subjacent pulmonary parenchyma. Most patients with bilateral HPPs have an increase in commercial-type amphibole asbestos content in the lungs.157-163 The number of fibers is greater than that in the general population but less than the number found in individuals with asbestosis. Unilateral plaq...