Digital radiological surveillance of silicosis and related tuberculosis in the South African mining industry practical and technical considerations

RESUMO

The switch from analogue to digital radiography formats for surveillance for silicosis and tuberculosis in the South African mining industry raised the question of equivalence of formats for this purpose. As a result, the South African Mine Health and Safety Council (MHSC) sponsored a study, recently published, on the equivalence of digital and analogue radiography in this setting. This commentary aims to provide a summary of the study findings, accompanied by an overview of the practical considerations that arise in the use of digital radiographic surveillance in the South African mining industry. Through a clear understanding of the objectives of surveillance, use of quality and reference standards for hardware and software, and interpretation of digital images, avoidance of common pitfalls, and use of all the clinical and occupational health information on each miner, the contribution of surveillance to identification and control of silicosis and tuberculosis in the mining industry can be maximised