High-resolution computed tomography in cases with environmental exposure to asbestos in Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
Although all parts of the lung can be affected as a consequence of asbestos exposure, most CT protocols tend to scan only the middle and lower parts of the thorax. The aim of this study was to investigate parenchymal and pleural lesions of persons exposed to environmental asbestos, using a high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) protocol scanning the whole thorax.


METHODS
We analyzed the chest radiographs and HRCT scans of 26 patients who presented bilaterally with multiple pleural plaques related to environmental asbestos exposure.


RESULTS
Twenty-four cases (92%) had an abnormal HRCT suggestive of asbestosis. Apart from common HRCT changes related to asbestosis, we detected apical pleural thickening (APT) in 9 cases as well as a coarse honeycomb pattern adjacent to APT in 7 of these cases. Cavitary lesions due to pulmonary tuberculosis were observed on HRCT scans from 4 patients in total. Neither apical pulmonary fibrosis nor cavitary lesions were visible on chest radiographs.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that the HRCT protocol for examining asbestos-exposed individuals with pleural plaques on chest X-rays should include the whole thorax, since the asbestos-related pathologies may involve all parts of the lung.
Topçu
F
F
Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, University of Dicle, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
Bayram
H
H
Simşek
M
M
Kaya
K
K
Ozcan
C
C
Işik
R
R
Senyiğit
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D012424:Rural Population; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014421:Turkey