Pleural thickening in mesothelioma is a fibrosis (thickening and scarring) of the lining of the cavity around the lungs. Pleural thickening in mesothelioma occurs when scar tissue builds up around trapped asbestos fibers. The scar tissue that causes pleural thickening in mesothelioma victims makes the lungs less elastic and more stiff, causing breathing problems. Treatment of pleural thickening in mesothelioma patients is usually restricted to reducing symptoms and implementing comfort measures.

In order to diagnose pleural thickening in mesothelioma cases, the examining doctor will take chest X-rays. As with pleural plaques, the discovery of pleural thickening in mesothelioma is usually incidental. Individuals will often complain of shortness of breath or chest pain (caused by the pleural thickening in mesothelioma patients), and in some cases, the clinical signs may be minimal. This means that the pleural thickening in mesothelioma victims is usually quite progressed by the time it is discovered. Normally, physicians will treat pleural thickening in mesothelioma patients by attempting to relieve the pressure placed upon the lungs. Without treatment, the pleural thickening in mesothelioma can lead to potential respiratory and cardiac failure. In extreme cases, physicians may combat the pleural thickening in mesothelioma patients through a process called pleurectomy. A pleurectomy removes the thick fibrous peel characteristic of pleural thickening in mesothelioma victims, allowing the lungs to expand.

Because asbestos exposure is directly linked to pleural thickening in mesothelioma cases, compensation and restitution are often available if the person suffering from pleural thickening in mesothelioma can prove the asbestos exposure occurred through the fault or negligence of another, such as an employer. For more information, contact an attorney familiar with pleural thickening in mesothelioma victims.