Radiological diagnosis of crocidolite induced pleural mesotheliomata in the rat.

Crocidolite asbestos dust was inoculated intrapleurally in 36 rats. Chest radiographs were obtained up to 120 weeks after inoculation. Radiological and pathological observations were compared. In 3 animals, in which mesotheliomata were suspected radiologically, no evidence of malignancy was observed on histological examination. A radiological diagnosis suggesting probable or definite malignancy was made in all 7 animals with histologically proven mesotheliomata.