What is the most common manifestation of asbestos exposure?

• A. Lung cancer
• B. Pleural effusion
• C. Pleural fibrous plaques
• D. Asbestosis

Answer: (C)

The most common manifestation of asbestos exposure is pleural plaques. These are fibrous thickening of the parietal pleura, often on the diaphragmatic and lateral chest walls, that may calcify and show up on imaging. They typically arise from asbestos fibers reaching the pleura and triggering a fibrocalcific response. Pleural plaques are usually asymptomatic and do not cause major lung impairment, but their presence is a radiosgraphic marker of prior exposure and signals an increased risk for other asbestos-related diseases.

In contrast, asbestosis represents diffuse interstitial fibrosis with breathlessness, pleural effusions can occur but are less common, and malignant outcomes like lung cancer or mesothelioma are more serious but less frequent than plaques.