Can criteria be found for selecting asbestos-exposed subjects for CT screening?

Objective :This study was undertaken to determine whether certain criteria could be used to select among asbestos-exposed subjects those who could ben efit from computed tomography screening. Materials and methods : Search for criteria enabling the selection of patie nts who should undergo a CT screening exam after occupational exposure to a sbestos was conducted in 150 subjects. All subjects were explored with sele cted high-resolution CT scans. Studied parameters were age, exposure data, pulmonary function test results. Results : None of the exposure data or pulmonary function test results sugg ested with certainty the presence or absence of asbestos-related pleural an d parenchymal lung disease. The studied parameters could not be used to sel ect patients who could benefit from CT screening. Conclusion : None ct the studied parameters enabled a selection of asbestos -exposed subjects who should undergo chest CT screening.