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Dyspnoea and a subcutaneous swelling
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
The initial radiograph shows a homogenous opacity the left hemithorax with a concave upper border, slightly higher laterally, and obscuring the diaphragm and underlying lung.
There is marked pleural thickening on the lateral borders of the left hemithorax.
Pleural thickening can be due to previous pulmonary infection, infarction, lipoma, lymphoma, tumour, or previous asbestos exposure. More extensive unilateral pleural thickening is usually the result of tuberculous pleuritis, mesothelioma, previous thoracotomy, or pleural effusion.
There is small round to oval lump in the region of chest drain.
Malignant mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma may affect pleura, peritoneum or pericardium, the last two sites being less commonly affected than pleura. Malignant mesothelioma is usually due to prolonged exposure to asbestos dust, particularly croccidolite. The tumour characteristically affects 20–40 years after exposure to asbestos. The first symptoms are those associated with worsening dyspnoea, pleural effusions, chest pain, and weight loss. The usual appearance is nodular pleural
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- Dyspnoea and a subcutaneous swelling
- H Ansari and R Bell
Postgrad. Med. J. 2003 79: 243.[Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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