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3097694 
Journal Article 
Multinodular Thoracic Densities in an Ex-shipyard Worker 
Chuang, MT; Krellenstein, DJ; Berman, LB 
1982 
1 
Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine
ISSN: 0027-2507
EISSN: 1931-7581 
NIOSH/00192947 
49 
6 
511-513 
English 
A case of radiographic multinodular thoracic densities in a former shipyard worker was discussed. A 65 year old white male was found to have bilateral pleural scalloping on his chest x-ray during a routine physical examination. The spots were consistent with pleural disease due to asbestos (1332214) exposure. The subject had no pulmonary symptoms. He had never smoked. He had worked as a pipe fitter aboard a Navy ship during World War-II. Because of the x-ray findings and his occupational history a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest and flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy were performed. The CT scan showed a 2 centimeter intrapulmonary nodule in the left upper lung field and a 3 centimeter diffuse density in the right upper lobe. The bronchoscopy indicated that the lesions represented a pleural process rather than intrapulmonary lesions. A diagnostic pneumothorax and left thorascopy were performed and confirmed that the lesions were pleural plaques. The characteristics of, and problems encountered in, diagnosing pleural plaques were discussed. 
DCN-188366; Asbestos workers; Shipyard workers; Clinical diagnosis; Lung lesions; Chest X rays; Clinical techniques; Case studies; Occupational exposure; 1332-21-4