Uncommon pneumoconioses: CT and pathologic findings.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate the computed tomographic (CT) features of pneumoconioses with histologic findings.


METHODS
Thin-section CT scans obtained in 48 patients with a history of occupational exposure to dust and radiographic changes suggestive of pneumoconiosis were retrospectively reviewed. Histologic samples were available in 22 cases.


RESULTS
The most common CT features were as follows: in 21 arc welders, ill-defined micronodules concentrated in the centrilobular regions (n = 15); in 19 graphite workers, small nodular hyperattenuating areas (n = 17) (ill defined or well defined, corresponding to macular lesions along the walls of bronchioles and nodules, respectively), interlobular septal thickening (n = 11), and large hyperattenuating areas (n = 10); in aluminum pneumoconiosis, predominant reticular (n = 2), nodular (n = 2), and upper-lobe fibrosis (n = 2); and in hard-metal pneumoconiosis, multilobular ground-glass attenuation and consolidation with shrinkage (corresponding to marked intra-alveolar desquamation and multinucleated giant cells with mural mononuclear cell infiltrate).


CONCLUSIONS
Predominant findings are characteristic in each type of pneumoconiosis and are depicted at thin-section CT.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000535:Aluminum / Q000009:adverse effects; D001706:Biopsy; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology; D001995:Bronchography; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006108:Graphite / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000473:pathology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014896:Welding
D004391:Dust; D008670:Metals; D006108:Graphite; D000535:Aluminum