%0 Journal Article %T Factors associated with early-stage pulmonary fibrosis as determined by high-resolution computed tomography among persons occupationally exposed to asbestos %A Paris, Christophe %A Benichou, Jacques %A Raffaell, Corrado %A Genevois, Anne %A Fournier, Luc %A Menard, Geraldine %A Broessel, Nathalie %A Ameille, Jacques %A Brochard, Patrick %A Gillon, Jean-Claude %A Gislard, Antoine %A Letourneux, Marc %J Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health %D 2004 %8 June 30 %N 3 %@ 0355-3140 %F Paris2004 %X '

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OBJECTIVES ': 'Asbestosis remains difficult to diagnose, particularly in its early stages. The aim of this study was to determine criteria for independently associated features of pulmonary fibrosis in high-resolution computed tomograms among persons occupationally exposed to asbestos.

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METHODS ': 'Retired persons with documented occupational asbestos exposure and no known asbestos-related diseases were assessed for occupational, clinical, functional respiratory, and chest X-ray criteria. In addition, they all underwent high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in the prone position.

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RESULTS ': 'Altogether 51 (7.2%) of the 706 enrolled participants had features of pulmonary fibrosis consistent with asbestosis in the HRCT. Among those with small irregular opacities of <1/0 according to the 1980 International Labour Office Classification (ILO-C) in their X-rays, 5% had asbestosis in the HRCT. In a multivariate analysis, only age [odds ratio (OR) per year 1.08, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.02-1.14], cumulative-exposure index (CEI) for asbestos (OR 6.4, 95% CI 1.5-28.4 for a CEI of ≥100 fibers/ml × years), and the presence of small irregular X-ray opacities of ≥1/0 ILO-C (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.6-6.0) were independently associated with HRCT asbestosis. No combinations of these criteria simultaneously yielded high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of early-stage HRCT asbestosis. Moreover, only 2% of the persons with a CEI of <25 fibers/ml × years had HRCT asbestosis, the finding confirming the low incidence of asbestosis for such low exposure, as previously reported on the basis of X-ray data.

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CONCLUSIONS ': 'Additional research is needed to better identify the persons most likely to benefit from HRCT screening for asbestosis.

%K asbestos %K computed tomography %K early-stage pulmonary fibrosis %K exposure %K high-resolution computed tomography %K HRCT %K occupational exposure %K pulmonary fibrosis %K sensitivity %K specificity %K thoracic radiography %K X-ray %R 10.5271/sjweh.781 %U https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=781 %U https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.781 %P 206-214