The analysis of results of low-dose chest CT of coal miners with over 20-year exposure / 实用放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the application value of low-dose CT (LDCT) in physical examination for coal miners with different exposure time.Methods The consecutive three-year imaging data of 972 coal miners with over 20-year exposure were retrospectively reviewed.All miners were divided into 3 groups according to different exposure time,including 317 cases with less than 10 years,299 cases with 10-20 years and 356 cases with more than 20 years.All subjects underwent LDCT examination every year during three consecutive years.Results Baseline LDCTAs the exposure time was prolonged (with less than 10 years,10-20 years and more than 20 years),the number of coal miners has increased with non-calcified pulmonary nodules,interstitial pulmonary lesions,clinically cured or stable stage of pulmonary tuberculosis,pulmonary calcification and pulmonary fibrous stripes,but without statistically significant difference.The detection rates of lung bullae,aorta and coronary artery sclerosis were also increased mildly,with the prolonged exposure time.There was no significant correlation between exposure time and detection rates of bronchiectasis,pulmonary inflammatory lesions,lymph node enlargement or calcification,pleural lesions.The exposure time of 6 cases of malignant nodules and 2 cases of active tuberculosis was more than 10 years.During a two-year follow-up using LDCT scan,there were no significant changes in most of intrapulmonary,pleural and mediastinal lesions.Neither were in pulmonary nodules less than or equal to 4 mm.Three pulmonary nodules with 4-8 mm diameters were enlarged.Most of the inflammatory lesions have changed in size.Conclusion The LDCT scan has a certain value for chest physical examination of the coal miners with different exposure time.It is very necessary to screen the high-risk population of coal miners with exposure time of more than 10 years using LDCT.LDCT reexamination has significant value for pulmonary nodules and inflammatory lesions with diameter of more than 4 mm.Most of intrapulmonary,pleural and mediastinal lesions have no obvious change in the short term,and make an annual reexamination unnecessary,neither does a negative baseline LDCT.