lung and airway disorders
Pleural Fibrosis and Calcification
Postinflammatory pleural fibrosis
Inflammation of the pleura causes thick fibrous tissue to replace the thin pleural membrane. In most cases, the thickening resolves almost completely once the inflammation resolves. Some people are left with minor degrees of pleural thickening, which usually causes no symptoms or impairment of lung function. Occasionally, one of the lungs becomes encased with a thick fibrous layer that limits the ability to expand and take in oxygen and impairs lung function. Occasionally, calcifications can develop in parts of the pleura that have been affected by fibrosis. 