Endemic pleural plaques are reported from many parts of the world. In Central Europe and in Finland no connection with malignant mesotheliomas has been found, whereas this tumour is often encountered in areas in Turkey where endemic plaques also occur. There seem, however, to be differences in the radiological appearances found in these areas. In the present study chest radiographs of 317 persons with pleural plaques from the endemic area of Finland were scrutinised. It was found that 4-7% showed a blunted costophrenic angle unilaterally and 0-9% bilaterally. The prevalence of sequelae of pleurisy is statistically very highly significantly lower than in people with pleural plaques in Turkey. As the risk of mesothelioma appears to be low in Finland, the results are in accordance with the hypothesis that the risk of mesothelioma in a given population is higher if in that population there is a high incidence of benign asbestos pleurisy.The endemic occurrence of pleural plaques was first described from Finland' and has since been reported from many parts of the world.2 Various mineral fibres in the ground have been identified as the probable cause. Interestingly, Finnish and Central European endemic plaques seem to have no connection with the occurrence of malignant pleural mesothelioma,3 whereas those in Turkey are associated with a sometimes very high risk of development of this otherwise rare tumour.4 A study in Turkey indicated that among populations with a high risk of mesothelioma there was a high incidence of sequelae of pleurisy, presumed to be related to asbestos.5 Comprehensive reports of the frequency of mesothelioma among persons with nonoccupational pleural plaques in Finland are still lacking but available data indicate that the prevalence is lower than in the mineral fibre areas of Turkey, and

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract