Patients who report signs of lung function impairment should talk to their healthcare provider and see what are the necessary investigations in their case. X-ray tests are the first specific examination that points out if pleural thickening has affected the lungs. If the damage is present, opaque masses will appear on the resulting images and the lung’s edges will show the pleural thickening.

CT scans’ precision is necessary for an accurate diagnosis and differentiation; these tests show whether the patient suffers from pleural thickening or mesothelioma. With the help of intravenous contrast agents, CT scans are able to provide high-quality imagistic results that determine diffuse pleural thickening. Aspects like nodules and thickening that exceeds 1 cm are usually signals of diffuse pleural thickening.

Sometimes, lung function tests are also used in order to assess these organs’ capability and establish the right diagnosis.