title: High-resolution CT in the evaluation of occupational and environmental disease.
abstract: The most common of the pneumoconioses are silicosis, CWP, and asbestosis. The former two are characterized by the presence of small nodular opacities predominantly distributed in the upper zones of the lung. The small nodular opacities are classified into two patterns on HRCT: (1) ill-defined fine branching lines and (2) well-defined discrete nodules. Asbestosis demonstrates thickened interlobular and intralobular lines, subpleural dot-like or curvilinear opacities, and honeycombing on HRCT, predominantly distributed in the bases of the lungs. Although HRCT findings of other pneumoconioses are variable and nonspecific, there are predominant and characteristic findings for each type of pneumoconiosis. HRCT is useful in achieving more accurate categorization of the parenchymal changes in each type of pneumoconiosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, National Kinki Chuo Hospital for Chest Disease, Sakai City, Osaka, Japan. akira@kinchu.hosp.go.jp
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001607:Berylliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001706:Biopsy; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003032:Coal Mining; D005260:Female; D006108:Graphite / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D012806:Siderosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012829:Silicosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013627:Talc / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014896:Welding
chemical_list: D013627:Talc; D006108:Graphite