PLEURAL PLAQUES AND RISK FOR BRONCHIAL-CARCINOMA AND MESOTHELIOMA - APROSPECTIVE-STUDY

From the general population in the country of Uppsala, Sweden, 1,596 m en with pleural plaques fulfilling strict radiologic criteria mere ide ntified from 1963 until June 1985. The men have been followed prospect ively for 16,369 person-years. The number of mesotheliomas and bronchi al carcinomas was compared with the age- and year-specific expected in cidence from the official cancer registry of Sweden. Fifty bronchial c arcinomas occurred, while 32.1 were expected after correction for smok ing habits, a difference which was statistically significant. Patients with radiologic asbestosis mere overrepresented among those with bron chial carcinoma. The risk for patients with pleural plaques without as bestosis was increased 1.4 times, which was statistically significant. There mere 9 mesotheliomas, while only 0.8 mere expected. The mean la tency time from first exposure to diagnosis of bronchial cancer was 44 .1 years and for mesothelioma was 48.1 years. Thus, pleural plaques on the chest roentgenogram indicate significant exposure to asbestos, wi th an increased risk for mesothelioma and possibly also for bronchial carcinoma. Any person found to have plaques on chest roentgenogram sho uld be informed of them and should be persuaded to stop smoking.