Radiologically recognized pleural changes in nonpneumoconiotic silica-exposed coal miners.
OBJECTIVE
Whether nonpneumoconiotic silica-exposed coal miners develop radiologically recognizable pleural changes was studied.


METHODS
In a retrospective follow-up study, the oldest and the most recent chest X-rays of 765 workers with a profusion category lower than 1/0 according to the International Labour Office were read.


RESULTS
Altogether 720 (94.1%) workers had no abnormalities, and 45 (5.9%) showed some pleural alteration in the first X-ray. In 43 (6%) of the 720 with no initial abnormalities, some pleural change was detected in the last X-ray. There was a statistical difference (P = 0.022) according to silica exposure category [low: 5 (2.4%); medium: 8 (6%); high: 30 (8%)]. The relative risk for any pleural alteration was significantly increased in relation to the silica-exposed group [medium: odds ratio (OR) 5.72, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.4-23.5, P = 0.016; high: OR 7.62, 95% CI 2.1-27.2, P = 0.002] and to rib alterations (OR 3.74, 95% CI 1.4-9.7, P = 0.007). In 19 (2.6%) workers with no alterations initially, a costophrenic sinus alteration was detected later. Again the silica exposure categories [low: 1 (0.5%); medium: 3 (2.2%); high: 15 (4.2%)] differed significantly (P = 0.033). The relative risk of costophrenic sinus obliteration was significantly increased in relation to the silica-exposed group [medium: OR 8.59, 95% CI 0.7-113, P = 0.102; high: OR 16.44, 95% CI 1.5-177, P = 0.021]. The appearance of two costophrenic sinus obliterations and the disappearance of four were detected in the last chest X-ray of the 45 workers with some pleural alteration initially.


CONCLUSIONS
Costophrenic sinus obliteration can be found in nonpneumoconiotic silica-exposed coal miners and seems to be associated with silica exposure intensity.
Orriols
Ramon
R
Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. rorriols@hg.vhebron.es
Muñoz
Xavier
X
Sunyer
Jordi
J
Isidro
Isabel
I
Tura
Josep M
JM
Ferrer
Jaume
J
D000328:Adult; D003032:Coal Mining; D018450:Disease Progression; D004391:Dust; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D012829:Silicosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
D004391:Dust; D012822:Silicon Dioxide