Reliability of early diagnosis of pleuropulmonary lesions in workers exposed to asbestos: the effect of position, radiographic quality and storage phosphor imaging on diagnostic accuracy.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Feist JH ; Fuhrman CR ; Gur D ; Hodgson MJ ; Owens G
• Description:
  An analysis was begun of a pilot group of workers with documented asbestos (1332214) exposure. Radiographically the majority of the workers had either minimal abnormal findings compatible with asbestosis or clearly normal chests. The analysis consisted of 100 consecutive workers with an occupational exposure to asbestos, mostly of 15 years or more. Pulmonary function studies were performed either using simple spirometry or whole body plethysmography with lung volumes and single breath carbon-monoxide diffusing capacity. The results confirmed that increased reliability of the radiographic diagnosis of asbestos related pulmonary and pleural lesions varied directly with diagnostic quality, sharpness, contrast and positioning, and that, particularly in early cases, PA films alone did not suffice. The authors state that in order to enhance recognition of actual disease and minimize false positive diagnoses, the standard examination for individuals suspected of asbestos related disease should consist of PA, left lateral and both 45 degree anterior oblique projections with very short radiographic exposure, high Kv technique, and proper positioning. Uncertainty concerning pleural and diaphragmatic lesions may be resolved by computer tomography.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Air Pollution, Indoor Environmental Health Occupational Health Safety Smoke Tobacco Products Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Asbestos Fibers Asbestos Workers Clinical Diagnosis Diagnostic Techniques Dust Exposure Occupational Exposure Pulmonary Function Tests Respiratory System Disorders
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Conference/Symposia Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  463-478
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00198445
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference, August 23-26, 1988, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-108, 1990 Sep; (Part I):463-478
• CAS Registry Number:
  Asbestos (CAS RN 1332-21-4)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1990
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Part Number:
  I
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference, August 23-26, 1988, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ecfba4fced9cf34a0e8d4d9215f18ac86a34f8f1ac265062325b7d4dd6c645ff529de3758bdb15c4c392b63426d8912f4bfb96ddb7b9c8e3e029dbda0a3c8c5b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/180508/cdc_180508_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 290.68 KB ]