title: Beryllium disease: assessment with CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the thin-section computed tomographic (CT) features of beryllium disease and compare the sensitivities of thin-section CT and chest radiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 28 patients with biopsy-proved beryllium disease and 12 healthy control subjects, radiographs were scored with an international classification system. Thin-section CT scans were scored for 11 parenchymal, airway, pleural, and mediastinal findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thin-section CT revealed at least one abnormality in 25 patients (89%); chest radiography, in 15 patients (54%). After the finding of bronchial wall thickening attributable to tobacco smoking was excluded, CT scans in 21 (75%) of 28 patients were abnormal because of beryllium disease. The most common CT abnormalities were parenchymal nodules (n = 16) and septal lines (n = 14). With use of CT, abnormalities were detected in 10 (77%) of 13 patients with normal radiographs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thin-section CT was more sensitive than chest radiography in detection of beryllium disease, but the diagnosis was missed in up to 25% of cases with histologic proof.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, CO 80206.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Buschman
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D001607:Berylliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods