Radiologic and pathologic characteristics of mixed dust pneumoconiosis.

Modern radiologic technology has to led to increased diagnostic efficacy and accuracy in demonstrating pulmonary changes secondary to occupational dust exposure. This article presents three cases of typical and two cases of atypical silicosis with rounded atelectasis as seen in computed radiographic (CR), computed tomographic (CT), and scintigraphic images and autopsied lung specimens. Chest radiographs revealed both small rounded and small irregular opacities. Small irregular opacities on chest radiographs often proved to be reticular or honeycomb patterns on CT scans. Irregular opacities seen on CR and CT images represented interstitial fibrotic or mixed dust fibrotic changes associated with the accumulation of birefringent particles and emphysematous change, as noted at histologic analysis. CT scans and scintigrams were useful for visualizing parenchymal abnormalities, especially fibrotic change, emphysematous change, and pleural abnormalities.

[Application of image cytometry to cytological diagnosis of breast tumors].

Computerized morphological analysis of the cell nuclei was performed on 66 cases (2222 nuclei) of aspirated materials from breast tumors: 25 benign cases (302 nuclei), 41 malignant cases (1420 nuclei). Its diagnostic significance and the correlation between nuclear analysis and clinical staging were studied. Nuclear diagram and intranuclear chromatin distribution pattern were evaluated using computer system named 6400. The malignant tumor had larger, more round-shaped nuclei and less uniform chromatin distribution. Under tnm classification, stage IV tumors had larger, more flattened nuclei and more irregular chromatin distribution pattern than the others. Computerized morphological analysis of breast tumors may give a quantitative aspect to classical diagnostic process. Furthermore, this analytical method provides information on clinical stage of breast cancer.