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Chest radiographs in subjects with asbestos‐related abnormalities: Comparison between ilo categorizations and clinical reading
Author(s) -
Hilt Bjørn,
Borgersen Arne,
Lien Jan Th.,
Langård Sverre
Publication year - 1992
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/ajim.4700210608
Subject(s) - medicine , asbestos , pleural thickening , asbestosis , radiography , pleural disease , pulmonary fibrosis , radiology , lung , respiratory disease , surgery , materials science , metallurgy
Abstract The findings of a previous chest X‐ray screening, determined without using standardized criteria, were reassessed by means of the ILO classification. Of 470 radiographs that had been determined as showing asbestos‐related changes, 430 were categorized according to the ILO Classification. Small opacities with profusion ≥ 1/0 were described in 39 (52%) of 75 participants who, on the original clinical reading, had been determined as having lung fibrosis, and in 45 (12.7%) of 355 who were determined as having pleural changes only. When considering circumscribed pleural thickening at the chest wall or diaphragm, as categorized by the ILO Classification, such changes were present in 401 (93.7%) of 428 subjects with pleural changes as determined on the clinical reading. In addition to the improved sensitivity and specificity achieved, the ILO Classification also allows comparison with other studies. The most apparent disadvantage of the ILO system is that it cannot firmly separate the various types of asbestos‐related pleural changes. The study revealed that the previous asbestos exposure of the case subjects had occurred in many different workplaces and occupations. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.