Spirometrically controlled quantitative CT for detection of pulmonary function in silica-exposed workers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the diagnostic value of spirometrically controlled quantitative CT in silica-exposed workers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Whole lung spiral scans at 50% vital capacity (VC) and image with high resolution CT(HRCT) at 10% VC and 90% VC level and 5 cm above/below carina were performed in 62 silica-exposed workers and 54 healthy adults. Automatic evaluation software, Pulmo, was used to evaluate the quantitative parameters and compared with clinical pulmonary function tests.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>9 workers with emphysema were detected by CT scans from 62 silica-exposed workers. The quantitative parameters of 10% VC and 90% VC were significantly different between the silica-exposed workers and the controls (P < 0.05). With the increasing of length of exposure to silica dust, the difference showed a ladder-like rising.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Spirometrically controlled quantitative CT is a sensitive, accurate and objective method. It is superior to conventional CT and pulmonary function tests for the early detection in silica-exposed workers, espicially for detecting early stage of small airway disease.</p>