Pleural Plaques

Pleural plaques are thick scar-like tissue in the pleura, the lining of the lungs. While they are non-cancerous, they are a sign of asbestos exposure and could indicate an increased risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Learn more about pleural plaques and the dangers of asbestos-related illnesses.

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Written and Fact-Checked by: Lung Cancer Group

Last updated: April 2, 2026

Top Topics:

How Pleural Plaques Develop
Symptoms
Diagnosis
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What Is Pleural Plaque?

Pleural plaques are hardened buildups of scar tissue and collagen that develop due to exposure to asbestos.

Unlike many other asbestos-related diseases, pleural plaques are generally not dangerous to your health. This is because they are benign (not cancerous).

Here’s what to know about pleural plaques and asbestos:

Pleural plaques typically don’t cause any symptoms and won’t affect your long-term health.
They develop 10-50 years after asbestos exposure.
You won’t know you have them unless you get a chest X-ray or another imaging scan.

The main concern with pleural plaques is that they are a sign of asbestos exposure, the known cause of life-threatening cancers like lung cancer and mesothelioma.

If you have been diagnosed with pleural plaques, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease, Lung Cancer Group may be able to help you. Get started with a free lung cancer case review today.

How Asbestos Causes Pleural Plaques

Pleural plaques are caused by exposure to asbestos, a cancer-causing fibrous mineral. There’s a long latency period, or time after exposure, for pleural plaques to develop. They typically form 10-50 after being exposed to asbestos.

Here’s how asbestos can cause pleural plaques:

When breathed in or swallowed, the asbestos fibers settle in the pleura, causing chronic irritation.
The immune system will try to break the fibers down but can’t, causing scar tissue to build up around them.
Scar tissue and collagen collect into hardened nodules in the lung lining.

Pleural plaques usually develop in the parietal pleura, the tissue that makes up the outer layer of the lungs that connects the lung to the diaphragm and chest wall. In rare cases, pleural plaques can also develop in the visceral pleura, the inner layer of lung tissue.

If you’re diagnosed with pleural plaques, you may want to consider getting routine cancer screenings since you may be at risk of pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases.

Occupational Risks of Asbestos Pleural Plaques

People who regularly experienced occupational asbestos exposure are at a higher risk of developing lung plaques than the general population. This is because they were exposed to asbestos on an everyday basis.

Workers with a higher risk of occupational asbestos exposure include:

Boilermakers
Construction workers
Factory workers
Firefighters
Shipbuilders
Steel and textile mill workers

Prior to the early 1980s, many workers served in jobs where asbestos was widely used. The risks of asbestos were hidden by major manufacturers for decades, putting workers at risk of pleural plaques and lung cancer.

Other Risk Factors for Asbestos Pleural Plaques

Besides working at jobs that regularly relied on asbestos, there were other ways that people could have been exposed, contributing to their pleural plaque diagnosis later on in life.

Pleural plaques could develop through:

Talcum powder exposure: Talc products like baby powder, makeup, and more often contain traces of asbestos fibers, according to the journal Diseases of the Pleura. As a result, those who regularly used talcum powder could be in danger today.
Environmental exposure: Living in or near places with asbestos, such as near asbestos mines or in old buildings that contain asbestos insulation, could increase the risks.
Secondhand asbestos exposure: This can happen when someone who is regularly exposed to asbestos at work brings home asbestos fibers on their clothes, exposing family members and potentially causing pleural plaques and other illnesses.

If you potentially were exposed to asbestos and have developed pleural plaques or lung cancer, our team may be able to help you. Contact us to learn more.

Pleural Plaques Symptoms

Pleural plaques do not typically cause symptoms and may not pose serious health concerns for patients.

However, if you do start developing symptoms and have plaque on lungs, it may indicate more serious asbestos-related diseases.

Warning signs to watch for if you have pleural plaque include:

Bloody or persistent coughing
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing

If you have these symptoms, talk with your doctor immediately and discuss getting medical tests like lung cancer screenings. These can help to potentially catch lung cancer earlier, when it’s easier to treat.

Diagnosing Pleural Plaques

Doctors do not typically perform diagnostic tests specifically for asbestos plaques in the lungs. Instead, plaques are usually found on X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans for an unrelated issue.

Typically, imaging scans are enough to diagnose pleural plaques, but if there’s a concern about cancer, doctors may need to use a biopsy to remove a tissue sample for more testing.

Chest X-Rays

Chest X-rays (radiography) create images of your lungs and chest wall to detect any abnormalities. Pleural plaques may appear in chest X-rays as translucent, irregular rectangles with white edges.

If the plaques are calcified (hardened by calcium and collagen deposits), they have a white color.

Pleural plaques become calcified in about 10-15% of cases. Calcified pleural plaques are easier to detect, but they still do not cause significant health concerns for patients.

CT Scans

Chest CT scans allow radiologists to create high-resolution images of the chest cavity. These are typically better quality than chest radiographs. Pleural plaques show up as white lesions or masses on the pleura.

Biopsies

During a biopsy, a doctor takes a tissue sample to examine at the lab to look for signs of cancer. This can help determine the pleural plaque histology, or cells present.

Biopsies are crucial to determine if a patient has only pleural plaques or if there are cancer cells present too. Once the biopsy results come back, your health care team can recommend treatment plans.

If a biopsy reveals asbestos lung cancer, you may be eligible for financial assistance to cover treatment. See how we can help you with a free case review.

Pleural Plaques Treatment

Once a diagnosis of pleural plaques is confirmed, doctors may not recommend any treatment. This is because the condition is harmless and will not cause serious complications.

However, doctors may recommend routine screenings to ensure that no symptoms or other concerning asbestos-related diseases develop.

“Patients with pleural plaques as their only finding do not require treatment, regular imaging or specialist review. However, as they have been exposed to asbestos, provide advice about the potential risk of developing more serious asbestos related conditions and relevant red flag symptoms.”
— NHS Scotland

Prognosis for Pleural Plaques

The prognosis or expected outlook for patients with pleural plaques is often positive. Patients can live long and full lives with pleural plaques since this condition isn’t harmful.

However, the prognosis may change if the pleural plaques are indicative of another asbestos-related disease.

It’s important to continue talking with your doctor, especially if any pain or discomfort begins to develop after being diagnosed with pleural plaques.

Do Pleural Plaques Lead to Other Pleural Diseases?

Pleural plaques themselves are not malignant (cancerous) and do not lead to cancer. However, because they are a sign of asbestos exposure, it’s possible to have a co-occurring asbestos disease.

Many patients with pleural plaques can also develop:

Asbestosis: An interstitial lung disease in which the lungs become stiff and scarred. Asbestosis and pleural plaques commonly occur together.
Asbestos lung cancer: This evelops when lung tumors form due to asbestos.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD): This is a group of lung diseases that makes it difficult to breathe.
Mesothelioma: This is a cancer of the body’s internal lining only caused by asbestos.
Pleural thickening: This term describes scarring of the lung lining.
Pleural effusion: Buildup of excess fluid in the lung lining, causing pain and difficulty breathing

If you have been diagnosed with pleural plaques, it’s important to undergo follow-up doctor appointments as you may have a more serious illness. The earlier doctors identify and treat asbestos-caused cancers like lung cancer and mesothelioma, the higher your chances of survival.

Additionally, those with pleural plaques are encouraged to quit smoking. Smoking amplifies the damage that asbestos causes and can lead to more serious health problems like lung cancer.

Asbestos Pleural Plaque Compensation

It may be possible to get compensation if you’ve developed pleural plaque as well as a more serious asbestos-related disease like lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma.

While every case is different, some pleural plaque patients with these other, more aggressive illnesses have recovered $1 million or more, allowing them to pay for treatment expenses and other bills.

Pleural plaque claims for compensation can help cover:

Any health care expenses
Basic living costs like mortgages or groceries
In-home care if needed
Mortgages or rent

An asbestos pleural plaque lawyer can help review your options and determine if you qualify to get a financial payout.

Get a free case review now to learn if you’re eligible for lung cancer and pleural plaque compensation.

Get Help for Pleural Plaques

Pleural plaque is the least serious of all asbestos-related diseases. However, there is still a risk that you could get sick with a more aggressive illness like lung cancer, so it’s important to stay on top of your health if you’ve been diagnosed.

For those facing pleural plaques as well as lung cancer, mesothelioma, or asbestosis, Lung Cancer Group is ready to help.

If eligible, our team can:

Determine how you were exposed to asbestos
Help you learn more about treatment options
Seek compensation on your behalf
Offer support during this difficult time

Call (877) 446-5767 or get a free case review now to find out how we can assist you or someone you love.

Asbestos Pleural Plaques FAQs

What are pleural plaques?

Pleural plaques are deposits of collagen and sometimes calcium that build up in the lining of your lungs as a result of asbestos exposure.

While it can be concerning to know that you have developed pleural plaque, it’s important to remember that they are not harmful. You won’t feel any pain with pleural plaques, and they won’t cause long-term health complications.

However, you are potentially at risk of a more serious asbestos-related illness developing later on. If you’re worried, talk with your doctor about your exposure history and ask if precautionary screenings are right for you.

Can pleural plaques kill you?

No, pleural plaques alone can’t kill you. In fact, pleural plaques are considered harmless, and you have a normal life expectancy with them.

However, pleural plaques can be a sign of exposure to asbestos, which can increase someone’s risk of developing more serious conditions like asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

If you have been diagnosed with pleural plaques and start developing symptoms like a cough or chest pain, make sure to see a doctor right away.

How does asbestos cause pleural plaques?

Pleural plaques develop after asbestos fibers are breathed in or swallowed. The body is unable to remove the fibers. As a result, protein may build up around the fiber in the lungs, causing thick scar tissue known as pleural plaques.

Asbestos fibers can also cause you to develop lung cancer or mesothelioma on top of pleural plaques. If you’re facing one of these serious health issues, we may be able to help. Call (877) 446-5767 to learn more.

Can pleural plaques indicate other asbestos-related diseases?

Yes, possibly. Since pleural plaques are caused by asbestos fibers, they may indicate someone is at an increased risk of serious asbestos-related illnesses.

If you are experiencing trouble breathing and you were diagnosed with pleural plaques in the past, it is important to talk with your doctor about diagnosing lung cancer, mesothelioma, or other serious health issues.

What is the life expectancy of someone with pleural plaques?

Because pleural plaques do not cause any serious health problems or symptoms, they will not impact your life span, as long as no other asbestos-related diseases develop.

If you develop a more aggressive illness like asbestos lung cancer, your life expectancy will depend on your specific diagnosis and treatment options. We can help you learn more about treatments and how to afford them. Get a free case review now.

Can pleural plaque cause heart problems?

Pleural plaques are harmless, so they will not directly cause heart issues. Pleural plaques affect the lining of the lungs, so they do not even form near the heart or the heart lining (pericardium).

Some studies show a link between the development of pleural plaques and heart-related issues, such as coronary artery disease. With that said, it’s not believed that pleural plaque itself causes any heart issues.