title: Pneumoconiosis in dental technicians: HRCT and pulmonary function findings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pneumoconiosis is a form of diffuse interstitial lung disease, often resulting from occupational exposures. As dental prosthetic technicians (DPTs) build prostheses, they are exposed to many chemical materials that increase their risk of developing pneumoconiosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To document pulmonary function and prevalence of pneumoconiosis in DPTs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of DPTs working in prosthetic laboratories who underwent pulmonary function test and high-resolution chest computed tomography (HRCT) scanning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 76 participants and pneumoconiosis was diagnosed in 46%. The most commonly seen radiological finding was round opacities, present in 38%. Agreement among HRCT readers was moderate to good. As defined by HRCT, emphysema was diagnosed more often in those with a longer occupational history or a history of smoking, and low carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO), but not in those with pneumoconiosis. Forced expiratory rate and DLCO were significantly lower in those who had worked 16 years or more (all P < 0.05). DLCO values were significantly lower in technicians with emphysema and in current smokers (all P < 0.01). Round opacities were also present in a substantial proportion of DPTs who had 15 years or less exposure. Because HRCT is able to detect radiological changes of occupational lung disease very early, the prevalence of pneumoconiosis in our participants was quite high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pneumoconiosis identified by HRCT was present in almost half of DPTs surveyed. Appropriate education and workplace protection should be given to DPTs in order to prevent exposure to hazardous materials in dental prosthetics laboratories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Disease, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş 46100, Turkey, drhasankahraman@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kahraman
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Disease, Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Medicine, Samsun 55030, Turkey.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koksal
authors.affiliation: Chest Disease, Ceyhan State Hospital, Ceyhan/Adana 01940, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cinkara
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş 46100, Turkey.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş 46100, Turkey.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sucakli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Sakarya University, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya 54187, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ekerbicer
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003800:Dental Technicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Dental technicians; occupational disease; pneumoconiosis; respiratory disease.