benefit. For instance, Carrillo et al [48] found 44% of patients with an asbestos exposure history had associated pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities on low-dose CT performed for lung cancer screening. The International Classification of High-Resolution Computed Tomography for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Diseases aims to standardize high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings for occupational screening [49]. CT with intravenous (IV) contrast serves no purpose in the setting of occupational lung disease screening and surveillance. MRI Chest Though there is evidence that shows that proton MRI may be useful in the setting of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary fibrosis [50-53], there is no direct evidence to support the use of MRI as an initial imaging technique in population-based screening and surveillance of occupational lung disease. FDG-PET/CT Skull Base to Mid-Thigh There is no relevant literature to support the use of fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-PET/CT as an initial imaging technique in population-based screening and surveillance of occupational lung disease. Variant 2: Occupational exposure, suspected interstitial lung disease. Initial imaging. Radiography Chest The chest radiograph and CT are complementary in the initial workup of suspected occupational lung disease [21,24,54,55]. When patients with occupational exposures present with respiratory symptoms, chest radiography serves as the primary function of excluding alternative diagnoses, such as infectious pneumonia or pulmonary edema, with HRCT findings offering the best characterization of lung disease. CT Chest The primary imaging modality for symptomatic occupational lung disease is chest HRCT that often provides a definitive diagnosis, obviating the need for surgical biopsy.
Occupational Lung Diseases PCAs. benefit. For instance, Carrillo et al [48] found 44% of patients with an asbestos exposure history had associated pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities on low-dose CT performed for lung cancer screening. The International Classification of High-Resolution Computed Tomography for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Diseases aims to standardize high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings for occupational screening [49]. CT with intravenous (IV) contrast serves no purpose in the setting of occupational lung disease screening and surveillance. MRI Chest Though there is evidence that shows that proton MRI may be useful in the setting of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary fibrosis [50-53], there is no direct evidence to support the use of MRI as an initial imaging technique in population-based screening and surveillance of occupational lung disease. FDG-PET/CT Skull Base to Mid-Thigh There is no relevant literature to support the use of fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-PET/CT as an initial imaging technique in population-based screening and surveillance of occupational lung disease. Variant 2: Occupational exposure, suspected interstitial lung disease. Initial imaging. Radiography Chest The chest radiograph and CT are complementary in the initial workup of suspected occupational lung disease [21,24,54,55]. When patients with occupational exposures present with respiratory symptoms, chest radiography serves as the primary function of excluding alternative diagnoses, such as infectious pneumonia or pulmonary edema, with HRCT findings offering the best characterization of lung disease. CT Chest The primary imaging modality for symptomatic occupational lung disease is chest HRCT that often provides a definitive diagnosis, obviating the need for surgical biopsy.