title: [Compensation for occupational diseases after tomodensitometry screening for benign pleuro-pulmonary disease in a multiregional post-occupational medical surveillance program of asbestos-exposed retired workers].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Underreporting of occupational diseases related to asbestos exposure remains a matter of concern in France. The aim of this study was to evaluate the number of claims for compensation for asbestos-related non-malignant pulmonary or pleural occupational disease in subjects having undergone a chest CT-scan in a multiregional screening programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among the 5444 voluntary retired asbestos-exposed subjects recruited in four regions between 2003 and 2005 who had undergone a chest CT-scan, the number of claims for compensation for an asbestos-related pulmonary or pleural benign disease was analysed in 2006 and 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following CT-scan screening, 17.2% of participants were acknowledged as presenting with an asbestos-related non-malignant occupational disease, essentially pleural plaques, by the French National Health Insurance fund. Underreporting decreased as duration of follow-up after CT-scan increased. Nevertheless, 4 years after CT-scan, underreporting was still as high as 36% for subjects identified as presenting with pleural plaques. Mean duration between the date of CT-scan and the date of recognition as occupational disease was 7.4 months, shorter in cases where screening was coordinated by specialized centres.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A plan of action for an easier claiming process for compensation of asbestos-related diseases is desired. This could probably be obtained through improved sensitization of physicians engaged in the follow-up of asbestos-exposed subjects, and by standardization of the interpretation and reporting of asbestos-related abnormalities observed on chest CT-scans.
authors: Service de pathologie professionnelle, CHU de Rouen, 76031 Rouen cedex, France. antoine.gislard@chu-rouen.fr
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gislard
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Schorle
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Letourneux
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ameille
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Brochard
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Clin
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Conso
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Laurent
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Luc
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Paris
authors: J-C
authors: JC
authors: Pairon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008400:Mass Chest X-Ray; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos