High-resolution CT in simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Lack of correlation with pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas values

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Chest; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.104.4.1156· OSTI ID:5541675

Collins, L C; Willing, S; Bretz, R; Harty, M; Lane, E; Anderson, W H ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Louisville, KY (United States)

We examined 21 miners by means of standard chest radiography, high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function tests, and resting arterial blood gas levels. Using the ILO/UC classification of pneumoconiosis, 7 miners had category 1/0 or 2/1 simple coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). By HRCT, nodules were identified in 12 miners; 4 of 9 were classified as category 0/0 CWP; 2 of 5, 0/1 CWP; 5 of 6, 1/0 CWP; and 1 of 1, 2/1 CWP by chest radiograph. Focal emphysema was identified by HRCT in 7 miners; 4 of 9 were classified as 0/0 CWP; 2 of 5, 0/1 CWP; and 1 of 6, 1/0 CWP by standard chest radiography. Four miners with definite nodules confirmed by HRCT had focal emphysema, while three without nodules had focal emphysema. Pulmonary function testing was not different between miners with or without CWP by standard chest radiography, nor was it different between miners with or without definite nodules evidenced by HRCT. No difference in resting oxygenation was found between any group of miners. The presence of focal emphysema confirmed by HRCT did not significantly affect pulmonary function tests on resting arterial blood gas values. There was, however, a significantly lower FEV1 and mean forced expiratory flow during the middle half of forced vital capacity with lifetime nonsmoking miners. The presence of CWP on chest radiography was significantly correlated with smoking cigarettes but not the years of mining. The presence of nodules on HRCT approached a significant correlation with cigarette smoking, but focal emphysema did not. For detecting evidence of coal dust accumulation in lung parenchyma and identifying focal emphysema, HRCT was more sensitive than standard chest radiography. However, despite earlier detection of parenchymal abnormalities, abnormal pulmonary function attributable to coal dust could not be identified.

• OSTI ID: 5541675
• Journal Information: Chest; (United States), Vol. 104:4; ISSN 0012-3692
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DIAGNOSTIC USES
GAS ANALYSIS
MINERS
PNEUMOCONIOSES
DIAGNOSIS
X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY
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ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY AREAS
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DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
EVALUATION
INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
MINING
PERSONNEL
PRIMATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
TOMOGRAPHY
USES
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550602 - Medicine- External Radiation in Diagnostics- (1980-)
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Lignite
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