Noninvasive detection of early asbestos-related disease of the thorax: algorithmic analysis of radiographic, nuclear, and serologic tests.
Improved imaging techniques may assist in the diagnosis of early asbestosis, such as could occur from "asbestos in place." These include (1) increased visualization of visceral pleural thickening, (2) high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and (3) gallium scanning, combined with evidence of serum markers indicating inflammation-associated pulmonary collagen formation. Combining these imaging and serum test observations with a clinically useful algorithmic approach may permit the diagnosis of "early" asbestosis, which is not now possible from the individual test results or from an unweighted combination of such data.
Rockoff
S D
SD
Department of Radiology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037.
Schwartz
A M
AM
D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D001194:Asbestos