T. Kraus et al., COMPUTER-ASSISTED CLASSIFICATION-SYSTEM FOR CHEST-X-RAY AND COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY FINDINGS IN OCCUPATIONAL LUNG-DISEASE, International archives of occupational and environmental health, 69(6), 1997, pp. 482-486
The ILO classification of pneumoconiotic changes in the lungs and pleu
ra has become a standardized and widely accepted method of documentati
on in occupational medicine. Recently a classification system for comp
uted tomography/high-resolution computed tomography (CT/HRCT) findings
in the:lung has been proposed as well. For both classification system
s, computed-assisted programs have been developed that allow the stora
ge and archiving of the results as well as further statistical process
ing. The programs are compatible with usual hard-ware configurations,
have comprehensible and transparent structure, and are easy to learn a
nd adaptable to individual needs. The use of the computer-assisted cla
ssification systems is presented ill the example of an insulator expos
ed to asbestos. The system of data documentation and processing has pr
oved to be very practicable in the more than 2000 patients studied thu
s far.