Asbestos-induced pleural diseases--thoracoscopic aspects.

The endoscopic morphology of asbestos-induced pleural disease is demonstrated by typical thoracoscopic findings. Among 627 thoracoscopies, lesions induced by exposure to asbestos were found in 9.9% (50 malignant mesotheliomas of the pleura, 10 pleural hyalinoses, 2 asbestos pleurisies). This comparatively high percentage is indicative of the pathogenic relevance of asbestos in the pleuropulmonary region. In addition to describing the diffuse malignant mesotheliomas of the pleura, reference is made in the discussion to the possible occurrence of benign localized fibromatous mesotheliomas that are not clearly related to asbestos exposure.