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Increased body mass index is related to apparent circumscribed pleural thickening on plain chest radiographs
Author(s) -
Gary Lee Y.C.,
Runnion Christina K.,
Pang S.C.,
de Klerk Nicholas H.,
Musk A. William
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0274(200101)39:1<112::aid-ajim11>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - medicine , radiography , asbestos , body mass index , pleural thickening , thickening , radiology , nuclear medicine , pleural effusion , chemistry , materials science , polymer science , metallurgy
Background Diffuse pleural thickening and pleural plaques are the commonest radiological manifestations of asbestos exposure. Differentiation between subpleural fat and non‐calcified pleural plaques is important clinically and medico‐legally. This study aims to determine if apparent circumscribed pleural thickening on chest radiographs is related with obesity. Methods Surveillance chest x‐rays of 693 former asbestos workers were read with the ILO classification. Subjects with costophrenic angle obliteration (n = 57) were analyzed separately. The remaining subjects were subdivided according to their body mass index (BMI): Group 1 < 26 kg/m 2 ; Group 2 26–30 kg/m 2 ; Group 3 > 30 kg/m 2 . Results Baseline characteristics, asbestos exposure, and profusion scores were evenly distributed. BMI of > 30 kg/m 2 was associated with a higher prevalence of pleural thickening on CXR (Gp1 = 8.5%; Gp2 = 9.3%; Gp3 = 18.3%). This relationship was strongest in the subgroups with 25–50% of the lateral chest wall involved and pleural thickness of < 10 mm. Conclusions Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m 2 ) is related to apparent circumscribed pleural thickening on CXR, especially thin (< 1 cm) shadows covering 25–50% of the lateral chest wall. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39:112–116, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.