[Asbestosic pleural calcifications and the associated pathology (study of 32 cases)]. / Calcifications pleurales asbestosiques et pathologie associée (étude de 32 observations).

The presence of calcified pleural plaques together with asbestos professional exposition is the sign of patent dust inhaling and can be related to asbestos pathology. The observations on a homogeneous group of 32 cases of asbestosic pleural calcifications are analyzed. The frequency of malignant pleural and bronchial tumours (2 pleural mesothelioma, 3 bronchial epithelioma) is classical. That there was no serious pulmonary fibrosis can be attributed to the conditions of dust inhaling. There was a relatively high frequency of pleural effusions, the benignity of which could not always be ascertained. Therefore, besides the convincing facts, the precise study of cases with calcified pleural plaques (pleural antecedents, circumstances of the discovery, evolution) could be a rough way of appreciating the frequency of benign asbestos pleurisies.

[Effects of asbestos on respiratory pathology. 27 cases observed in 6 years in a pneumo-phthisiology department in Nantes]. / Incidence de l'amiante sur la pathologie respiratoire. 27 observations recueillies en 6 ans dans un Service de pneumono-phtisiologie de Nantes

A search for respiratory disease due to asbestos permitted the authors, during a review of 6 years' activity on a Chest Unit in Nantes, to collect 27 cases which represents 2.4% of all cases examined. They were male subjects usually aged about 60 years exposed to dust mildly but continuously during a long career as metal workers, mainly in the shipyards. Pleural involvement was constant, usually limited to characteristic pleural calcifications which were well tolerated. Two cases of asbestos pleurisy were diagnosed, but above all we noted 7 cases of mesothelioma with a very poor prognosis. It is difficult to say whether asbestos is responsible for bronchial carcinoma but we noted two cases in patients with calcifications. The authors emphasise the necessity for revision of the table of occupational diseases which does not yet include pleural disease due to asbestos.