Does pleural calcification easily turn into cancer?

Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

Updated on February 11, 2025

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Pleurisy is a very common type of inflammatory lesion clinically. There are many factors that cause pleurisy, and it is generally seen in young and middle-aged males, mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the pleural cavity. If the pleurisy is tuberculous, it is usually treated with effective anti-tuberculosis medications systematically, which typically requires a course of 6 to 9 months. After complete recovery from pleurisy, many patients may show varying degrees of calcification spots in the pleural cavity. Generally, these calcification spots after recovery from pleurisy do not easily become cancerous.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

57sec

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The dangers of secondary recurrence of pleurisy

Pleurisy is very common in clinical settings, with most cases caused by the invasion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the pleural cavity, leading to inflammatory lesions. Patients generally experience pleurisy symptoms, and if their immune function is weak, some may relapse if not careful. Therefore, for patients recovering from pleurisy, it is essential to strengthen their immune system and pay attention to balancing work and rest, avoiding spicy and irritating foods, which can greatly reduce the possibility of pleurisy recurrence. If pleurisy recurs, the clinical symptoms may worsen compared to the initial infection or may present similarly to the initial symptoms. Generally, if pleurisy recurs, there might be severe complications due to adhesions in the pleural cavity, possibly leading to persistent chest pain symptoms.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui

General Surgery

49sec

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The difference between pleurisy and peritonitis

Peritonitis generally refers to a severe disease caused by bacterial infection, chemical irritation, or injury, most of which are secondary peritonitis originating from infections and necrosis of abdominal organs, perforations, trauma, etc. The main symptoms include abdominal pain, tense abdominal muscles, tenderness, and board-like abdomen. Pleurisy generally refers to the inflammation of the pleura caused by pathogenic microorganisms, also known as pleuritis, which can be accompanied by pleural effusion. Pleurisy is commonly caused by tuberculosis. Generally, the symptoms of peritonitis are more severe than those of pleurisy. Both pleurisy and peritonitis require active, timely, and regular treatment.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

41sec

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Does pleural calcification easily turn into cancer?

Pleurisy is a very common type of inflammatory lesion clinically. There are many factors that cause pleurisy, and it is generally seen in young and middle-aged males, mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection of the pleural cavity. If the pleurisy is tuberculous, it is usually treated with effective anti-tuberculosis medications systematically, which typically requires a course of 6 to 9 months. After complete recovery from pleurisy, many patients may show varying degrees of calcification spots in the pleural cavity. Generally, these calcification spots after recovery from pleurisy do not easily become cancerous.

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Written by Yuan Qing

Pulmonology

1min 1sec

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Sequelae of pleurisy with pulmonary effusion

The main sequelae of pleurisy with pleural effusion are pleural adhesions, which can affect respiratory function. Pleurisy is mostly caused by infectious diseases, although a portion is also due to non-infectious diseases. In the case of pleural effusion caused by infectious diseases, it contains a large amount of fibrinogen, which has the function of adhering to our pleura, thereby causing the pleura to thicken. At this time, the pleura will compress our lungs, significantly reducing the respiratory volume of our lungs, which greatly affects our respiratory function. Patients mainly exhibit symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest tightness, and rapid breathing even with slight activity or while lying in bed. Therefore, if pleurisy is detected, it is crucial to drain the fluid from the patient as soon as possible to avoid delaying treatment and the subsequent development of severe sequelae.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

1min 5sec

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Is it normal to occasionally feel chest tightness with pleuritis?

Patients with pleurisy occasionally experience chest tightness, which is a very common clinical symptom. It is important to clarify that in clinical cases, pleurisy is mostly due to infection of the pleural cavity by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causing clinical symptoms such as fever, chest tightness, shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain. Therefore, during an acute episode of pleurisy, some patients may have a severe pleural infection, and possibly a large amount of pleural effusion, which inevitably leads to symptoms like shortness of breath and chest tightness. For patients with pleurisy, if it is tuberculous, it is crucial to provide anti-tuberculosis medication as early as possible for symptomatic treatment. A lengthy course of treatment is usually required to effectively control the discomfort caused by pleurisy.