Pleural thickening in mild kaolinosis.
BACKGROUND
Kaolin is found along the "fall line" in Georgia, and parenchymal changes, both simple and complicated pneumoconiosis, have been previously described. This study was done to determine whether pleural thickening occurs in workers with mild kaolin pneumoconiosis.


METHODS
We evaluated 350 workers at a kaolin plant in Georgia. Thirty-two workers with abnormal chest radiographs were clinically evaluated. Twelve workers with mild kaolinosis but without any evidence of pleural changes on chest roentgenograms had computed tomography (CT) of the chest to assess the presence of pleural thickening.


RESULTS
Nineteen workers had radiographic changes consistent with kaolin pneumoconiosis (prevalence 5.4%), and four workers had evidence of pleural plaques (prevalence 1.1%). Five of the 12 workers had evidence of pleural thickening on CT.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that pleural thickening may be common on chest tomography in workers with kaolinosis and that the exposure to kaolin dust should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pleural thickening.
Chaudhary
B A
BA
Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912-3135, USA.
Kanes
G J
GJ
Pool
W H
WH
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D007616:Kaolin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D004391:Dust; D007616:Kaolin