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Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
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Pleural thickening on screening chest X-rays: a single institutional study
Akira Saito1,2, Yukichika Hakamata3, Yukiko Yamada3
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. asaitou-tky@umin.ac.jp.
Respiratory Research
|July 7, 2019
Summary
Pleural thickening, often seen on chest X-rays, is most common at the lung apex. This finding is linked to male sex, smoking history, older age, and a tall, thin body type.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Pulmonology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pleural thickening is a frequent chest X-ray finding with poorly understood characteristics.
- Its prevalence and associated factors require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the radiological and clinical features of pleural thickening.
- To identify demographic and anthropometric factors associated with pleural thickening.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 28,727 chest X-rays from annual health examinations.
- Statistical evaluation of prevalence based on age, sex, smoking status, height, weight, and BMI.
Main Results:
- Pleural thickening was the most common abnormal finding (92.2% at lung apex, termed pulmonary apical cap).
- It was more prevalent in males, smokers/ex-smokers, and increased with age (1.8% in teenagers to 9.8% in those ≥60 years).
- Associated with greater height and lower BMI, suggesting a predisposition in tall, thin individuals.
Conclusions:
- Pleural thickening, particularly as a pulmonary apical cap, is common and associated with specific demographic and anthropometric factors.
- Findings suggest potential causative mechanisms related to lung perfusion, ventilation, or mechanical forces in tall, thin individuals.
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