At present, the use of asbestos is not regulated at a worldwide scale. Moreover, there is a latency period between asbestos exposure and the manifestations of asbestos-related diseases. Consequently, pulmonologists are still dealing with consequences of asbestos exposure, which mainly occur at the pleural surface. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of asbestos-related pleural diseases. We summarized the most relevant data for the diagnosis and the management of benign asbestos pleural effusions, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening and rounded atelectasis. Special attention is dedicated to malignant pleural mesothelioma, given the challenging issues of this disease, the recent advances in its management and the dynamism of research in this area.
2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.