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HERO ID
2078958
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Asbestos-related pleural diseases: Dimensional criteria are not appropriate to differentiate diffuse pleural thickening from pleural plaques
Author(s)
Ameille, J; Matrat, M; Paris, C; Joly, N; Raffaelli, C; Brochard, P; Iwatsubo, Y; Pairon, JC; Letourneux, M
Year
2004
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
ISSN:
0271-3586
EISSN:
1097-0274
Volume
45
Issue
3
Page Numbers
289-296
Language
English
PMID
14991856
DOI
10.1002/ajim.10341
Web of Science Id
WOS:000220288500008
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
In the literature, the criteria used to define pleural plaques (PP) and diffuse pleural thickening (DPT) are very heterogeneous and often imprecise. A multicenter restropective study was conducted to assess the relevance of two radiographic definitions of DPT.
METHODS:
The study population consisted of 287 subjects with asbestos-related pleural thickening. Two definitions were used to characterize DPT on postero-anterior chest radiographs: definition 1: pleural thickening associated with obliteration of the costophrenic angle; definition 2: pleural thickening at least 5 mm wide, extending for more than one quarter of the chest wall. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function tests were compared in the DPT and PP groups resulting from the two definitions of DPT.
RESULTS:
According to definition 1, 34 patients (11.8%) were classified in the DPT group. Prevalence of chronic sputum, dyspnea, and chest pain was significantly higher in this group than in the PP group. FEV(1), FVC, and TLC were significantly lower. The differences persisted after adjustment for confounding factors. According to definition 2,102 patients (36.6%) were classified in the DPT group. DPT and PP groups did not differ in terms of prevalence of respiratory symptoms, or pulmonary function tests. Agreement between readers was significantly better when using definition 1.
CONCLUSIONS:
Obliteration of costophrenic angle is a much more reliable sign than dimensional criteria to characterize DPT.
Keywords
asbestos; diffuse pleural thickening; pleural plaques; ILO classification
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IRIS
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Libby Amphibole Asbestos (Draft, 2011)
Pulmonary Function Search, Sept 2013
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OPPT_Asbestos, Part I: Chrysotile_C. Engineering
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