Noninvasive detection of early asbestos-related disease of the thorax: algorithmic analysis of radiographic, nuclear, and serologic tests.

Abstract

Improved imaging techniques may assist in the diagnosis of early asbestosis, such as could occur from "asbestos in place." These include (1) increased visualization of visceral pleural thickening, (2) high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), and (3) gallium scanning, combined with evidence of serum markers indicating inflammation-associated pulmonary collagen formation. Combining these imaging and serum test observations with a clinically useful algorithmic approach may permit the diagnosis of "early" asbestosis, which is not now possible from the individual test results or from an unweighted combination of such data.

• Authors: S D Rockoff, A M Schwartz
• Journal: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (Ann N Y Acad Sci) Vol. 643 Pg. 121-32 (Dec 31 1991) ISSN: 0077-8923 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1809124 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Asbestos

Topics

• Asbestos (adverse effects)
• Environmental Exposure
• Humans
• Lung Diseases (blood, diagnosis, etiology)
• Radionuclide Imaging
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed