Update of occupational lung disease

Abstract

Objective Occupational Lung Disease is an oldest but still a biggest problem in occupational health. Methods Steering Committee members of the Japan Society for Occupational Health (JSOH) Occupational Lung Disease Study Group selected and summarized current topics on occupational lung diseases based on expert opinion, as informed by governmental regulation, public health concerns, and frequently discussed in related academic conferences. Results The topics included in this review are professional education in medical screening skills, 2014 update of Helsinki Criteria, respiratory diseases found in the earthquake and tsunami affected regions, newly recognized occupational lung diseases, and potential respiratory health hazards. Discussions Although occupational lung diseases seem to stay as one of the major concerns in occupational health, screening tools and control measures are standardized for the better prevention of the diseases. As this health problem usually occurs in where the most actively economically developing area is, the patients tend to increase in emerging economic powers with huge population.

Radiographic diagnosis of Pneumoconioses by AIR Pneumo-trained physicians: Comparison with low-dose thin-slice computed tomography

“…Focal emphysema is formed in p‐type pneumoconiosis seen in coal dust exposure by increasing air space size 8,24 . Dust‐related emphysematous changes are reported in cases with exposure to metals, 25 including indium compounds, the latter have reports of characteristic progressive emphysema shown in follow‐up studies 26‐28 …”

“…A NIOSH B reader correctly classified this (black arrow) as fractured rib emphysematous changes are reported in cases with exposure to metals, 25 including indium compounds, the latter have reports of characteristic progressive emphysema shown in follow-up studies. [26][27][28] There was a positive trend between sensitivities, especially when 0/1 was used as a cut-off, and years of experience in interpretation of pneumoconioses on chest radiographies, suggesting the importance of years of experience for improvement of diagnostic performance and proper application of the training system for occupational health physicians. The physician trained through the AIR Pneumo program with 3 years' experience demonstrated a competency equivalent to the NIOSH B reader in diagnostic performance, resulting in no significant difference in sensitivity and specificity for both parenchymal and pleural abnormalities.…”

Pneumoconiosis: current status and future prospects

“…The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the United States currently certifies the proficiency of technicians responsible for reading digital radiographs of pneumoconiosis. [ 26 ] The use of digital standard images makes telemedicine and remote counseling possible, and provides ample opportunity for the accurate and timely diagnosis of pneumoconiosis. While high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is more sensitive to the detection of early signs than chest x-rays are, [ 27 ] the International Classification of HRCT for Occupational and Environmental Respiratory Diseases (ICOERD) has developed and recommended a list of diagnoses for occupational and environmental related lung diseases.…”

Quality assurance in reading radiographs for pneumoconiosis: AIR Pneumo program

“…During a series of workshops, the expert group made a great effort to develop a comprehensive training course and an examination program. Finally, in 2006, the Asian Intensive Reader of Pneumoconiosis (AIR Pneumo) (www.airp.umin.jp) was established as an academia-based quality assurance program for physicians' proficiency in reading chest radiographs for pneumoconiosis [3]. The objective was to upgrade the skills of physicians in developing Asian countries in reading chest radiographs for pneumoconiosis by using the ILO Classification system.…”