Benign Asbestos Pleural Effusion (BAPE)
Epidemiology
- May occur within 10 years of exposure (this is the shortest latency period for any of the asbestos-related lung manifestations)
- Asbestosis, pleural plaques, and asbestos-related lung cancer typically occur 20 years or more after exposure
- Malignant mesothelioma usually occurs 30 years of more after exposure
Diagnosis
- Pleural Fluid
- Appearance: often bloody
- Cell Count: neutrophil or lymphocyte-predominant
- Pleural eosinophilia is seen in 50% of cases
- Cholesterol: elevated >55-60 mg/dL (seen in all exudates)
- Pleural: serum cholesterol ratio: elevated (seen in all exudates)
- Absence of asbestos bodies
- EM: fiber assay is not diagnostic
- CXR/Chest CT Pattern
Clinical
- Pleural Effusion
- Represents a diagnosis of exclusion, after cancer, TB, thromboembolic disease, and trauma have been excluded
Treatment
References