Like pleural plaques, this is another benign condition. Unlike pleural plaques, this condition can cause symptoms of breathlessness on exertion if sufficiently extensive. This is because the condition is “fibrosis” or scarring extending along both sides of the pleura, including the visceral pleura next to the lung.

There are however other more common causes, e.g. trauma to the chest from a road traffic accident, broken ribs following a fall, tuberculosis, pleurisy with effusion etc. It is important that these other possible causes are excluded by the medical expert.

DSS benefit can be awarded for diffuse pleural thickening provided it is sufficiently extensive.

Pleural thickening has a latency period of 20 years or more from first exposure but occasionally it develops sooner particularly if it develops after asbestos induced pleurisy with effusion.