Evaluation of dental technician's pneumoconiosis using chest X-rayand HRCT: correlation between radiological and functional findings

Authors

RECAİ ERGÜN
DİLEK ERGÜN
ENDER EVCİK
BEGÜM ERGAN

DOI

10.3906/sag-1604-146

Abstract

Background/aim: This study aimed to compare high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings with those of chest X-ray (CXR) and to evaluate the relationship of pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters with HRCT and CXR findings in cases of dental technician's pneumoconiosis. Materials and methods: CXR, PFT, and HRCT data of 89 dental technicians who were diagnosed with pneumoconiosis were retrospectively evaluated. Results: The cases of 24 dental technicians (27%) classified as normal (Category 0) based on CXR were evaluated as Category 1 according to HRCT. There was an inverse correlation of PFT parameters with nodular profusion score in CXR and all HRCT parameters. In this participant sample, small opacities were predominant (70% of the individuals), and worsening of PFT parameters was associated with the prevalence of pulmonary parenchymal changes. Conclusion: In the present study, micronodules detected using HRCT had an effect on pulmonary function worsening, which has not been reported in previous studies.

Keywords

Pneumoconiosis, dental technicians, high-resolution computed tomography, pulmonary function tests

First Page

252

Last Page

259

Recommended Citation

ERGÜN, RECAİ; ERGÜN, DİLEK; EVCİK, ENDER; and ERGAN, BEGÜM (2017) "Evaluation of dental technician's pneumoconiosis using chest X-rayand HRCT: correlation between radiological and functional findings," Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences: Vol. 47: No. 1, Article 36. https://doi.org/10.3906/sag-1604-146
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/vol47/iss1/36