title: Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in workers previously exposed to asbestos: detection of parenchymal lung disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the lungs of asymptomatic asbestos-exposed workers who were screened for lung cancer and mesothelioma using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for parenchymal abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred fifteen baseline LDCT studies of the chest of participants with at least 20 years' exposure to asbestos or presence of pleural plaques before enrollment on chest radiographs were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred fifteen subjects were studied. The mean age was 61.7 years, and the mean exposure to asbestos was 26.9 years. One hundred seventy-five (56%) participants had absence of parenchymal findings with a mean age of 58.7 years, mean exposure of 24.6 years, and a mean smoking pack years of 19. One hundred forty subjects (44%) had parenchymal findings (138 men and 2 women) with a mean age of 65.3 years, mean exposure of 29.73 years, and a mean smoking pack years of 21.5 years. Participants who had parenchymal manifestations were more likely to be older and have longer exposure to asbestos compared to participants who had no relevant parenchymal findings. There was no statistical difference in the mean smoking pack years between the groups with and without parenchymal findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose CT could demonstrate parenchymal lung manifestations in this higher-risk asymptomatic group with prior exposure to asbestos in the setting of screening for lung cancer and mesothelioma. Individuals with longer exposure to asbestos and of higher age have more pulmonary abnormalities. The age and the latency of exposure play an important role given that the asbestos-related parenchymal abnormalities on LDCT were more prevalent in the elderly participants and with longer periods of exposure.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. maclacarrillo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Maria Claudia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Carrillo
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alturkistany
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Elsie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Tae Bong
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Narinder
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weisbrod
authors.forename: Demetris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patsios
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos