Thin-Section CT Findings of Arc-Welders' Pneumoconiosis.
- Author:
Daehee HAN
1
;
Jin Mo GOO
;
Jung Gi IM
;
Kyung Soo LEE
;
Do Myung PAEK
;
Seong Ho PARK
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Comparative Study ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords: Lungs, diseases; Lungs, interstitial disease; Computed tomography (CT),Pneumoconiosis
- MeSH: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Comparative Study; Female; *Ferric Compounds; Human; Male; Pneumoconiosis/etiology/*radiography; Smoking/adverse effects; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed; *Welding
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology 2000;1(2):79-83
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To describe the thin-section CT findings of arc-welders' pneumoco-niosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-five arc-welders with a three to 30 (mean, 15)-year history of exposure underwent thin-section CT scanning. The extent of abnormalities detected was correlated with the severity of dyspnea and pulmonary function tests. For comparison, images of 43 smoking males (mean 25 pack-year) who underwent thin-section CT for other reasons (smokers' group) were also analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-four welders (63.5%) and six smokers (14.0%) showed positive findings. Predominant thin-section CT findings were poorly-defined centrilobular micronodules (30/54, 55.6%), branching linear structure (18/54, 33.3%), and ground-glass attenuation (6/54, 11.1%). In the smokers' group, poorly-defined micronodules were found in four patients, branching linear structures in one, and ground-glass attenuation in one. In welders, the extent of abnormalities seen on thin-section CT showed no significant correlation with the severity of dyspnea or the results of pulmonary funotion test. CONCLUSION: Poorly-defined centrilobular micronodules and branching linear structures were the thin-section CT findings most frequently seen in patients with arc-welders' pneumoconiosis. Less commonly, extensive ground-glass attenua-tion was also seen
