title: Correlation of ultra-low dose chest CT findings with physiologic measures of asbestosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The correlation between ultra low dose computed tomography (ULDCT)-detected parenchymal lung changes and pulmonary function abnormalities is not well described. This study aimed to determine the relationship between ULDCT-detected interstitial lung disease (ILD) and measures of pulmonary function in an asbestos-exposed population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two thoracic radiologists independently categorised prone ULDCT scans from 143 participants for ILD appearances as absent (score 0), probable (1) or definite (2) without knowledge of asbestos exposure or lung function. Pulmonary function measures included spirometry and diffusing capacity to carbon monoxide (DLCO).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were 92% male with a median age of 73.0 years. CT dose index volume was between 0.6 and 1.8 mGy. Probable or definite ILD was reported in 63 (44.1%) participants. Inter-observer agreement was good (k = 0.613, p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between the ILD score and both forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (r = -0.17, p = 0.04 and r = -0.20, p = 0.02). There was a strong correlation between ILD score and DLCO (r = -0.34, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes consistent with ILD on ULDCT correlate well with corresponding reductions in gas transfer, similar to standard CT. In asbestos-exposed populations, ULDCT may be adequate to detect radiological changes consistent with asbestosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Interobserver agreement for the ILD score using prone ULDCT is good. • Prone ULDCT appearances of ILD correlate with changes in spirometric observations. • Prone ULDCT appearances of ILD correlate strongly with changes in gas transfer. • Prone ULDCT may provide sufficient radiological evidence to inform the diagnosis of asbestosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Ground Floor B-block, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manners
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Conor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Joelin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teh
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Yi Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Helman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Ground Floor B-block, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA, Australia.|School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.|School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: A W Bill
authors.initials: AWB
authors.lastname: Musk
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Ground Floor B-block, Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA, Australia. fraser.brims@curtin.edu.au.|School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia. fraser.brims@curtin.edu.au.|Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. fraser.brims@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Fraser J H
authors.initials: FJH
authors.lastname: Brims
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Asbestos; Asbestosis; Multidetector computed tomography; Respiratory function tests; Screening