EVALUATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF HIGH-RESOLUTION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHICFINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH PNEUMOCONIOSIS

The standard ILO classification for pneumoconiotic changes using conve ntional X-ray films has become well established. In recent years compu ted tomography has played an increasing role in occupational medicine and above all in the assessment of pneumoconiosis. Therefore a standar dised method of classification for CT also seems necessary. A system o f classification developed by occupational hygienists and radiologists allows a detailed description of parenchymal and pleural changes and the use of 28 additional symbols. Furthermore, special diagnoses relev ant to occupational medicine and additional comments can be made. The classification system was tested in practice in the research project ' 'Early diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases'' (Fruhdiagnostik asbest verusachter Erkrankungen). It was shown to be both practicable and eas ily reproducible, intra-individually and interindividually.