Asbestos Related Pleural Disease

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Asbestos-related pleural disease is a common condition caused by asbestos exposure. Pleural disease consists of “plaques” on or thickening of the lining of the lung. Like asbestosis and other forms of asbestos-related diseases, pleural disease is a latent condition, meaning that it usually does not develop until several years after a person’s initial exposure to asbestos.

Free Pleural Disease Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with pleural disease as a result of asbestos exposure, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.

What’s the problem?

Pleural disease involves scarring of the lining of the lung indicating that an individual has had lung damage sufficient to be at risk for more serious complications. This condition is not cancerous. However, plaque or thickening impairs lung function, restricting breathing capacity. Usually there are bilateral asbestos markers in the lungs that come from exposure. This is significant in that it is an indication the individual is at a greater risk than the general population of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma.

There are different degrees of pleural disease. If the scarring spreads to the chest wall, it is considered pleural thickening, which may cause shortness of breath. Over time, the scarred lining can expand, blocking the lungs and making it hard to breath.

If the scarring is more centralized, it is called pleural plaques. While pleural plaques don’t typically have symptoms, the scarred area can grow and become hard and calcified causing breathing complications and lung impairment.

In more rare cases, pleural scarring can cause a part of the lung to fold over, resulting in severe pain and discomfort. This is called atelectasis. While asbestos-related pleural disease is not malignant, those who develop the condition are more susceptible to serious asbestos illnesses such as asbestosis.

Do I have an Asbestos-related Pleural Disease Lawsuit?

The Toxic Tort Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus exclusively on the representation of plaintiffs in asbestos-related pleural disease lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.