title: Overview and recommendations for medical screening and diagnostic evaluation for postdeployment lung disease in returning US warfighters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review inhalational exposures and respiratory disease risks in US military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and to develop consensus recommendations for medical screening and diagnostic referral.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Working Group of physicians and exposure scientists from academia and from the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs was convened in February 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite uncertainty about the number of people affected and risk factors for adverse pulmonary outcomes in this occupational setting, the Working Group recommended: (1) standardized approaches to pre- and postdeployment medical surveillance; (2) criteria for medical referral and diagnosis; and (3) case definitions for major deployment-related lung diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for targeted, practical medical surveillance for lung diseases and for a standardized diagnostic approach for all symptomatic deployed personnel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health,1400 Jackson St, Denver, CO 80206, USA. rosec@njhealth.org
authors.forename: Cecile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Deanna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harkins
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zacher
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meehan
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szema
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tolle
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: Mark B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Lyles
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hodgson
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teichman
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Salihi
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matwiyoff
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meeker
authors.forename: Suzette
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mormon
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: Coleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baird
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D008889:Military Personnel; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D014728:Veterans