CT Findings in People Who Were Environmentally Exposed to Asbestos in Korea

Abstract

Asbestos related pleuropulmonary disease has been emerging health problem for recent years. It can cause variable clinical symptoms and radiological abnormalities. However, there has been no report for their characteristics in subjects who were environmentally exposed to asbestos. We reviewed the CT images of 35 people who were environmentally exposed to asbestos in Chungnam province, Korea. The study result showed high incidence of pleural plaque and pulmonary fibrosis on chest CT (94% and 77%, respectively). The common CT findings of lung parenchymal lesions were as follows: centrilobular opacities (94%), subpleural dot-like or branching opacities (80%), interlobular septal thickening (57%), intralobular interstitial thickening (46%), parenchymal bands (43%) and subpleural curvilinear line (29%). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of pulmonary fibrosis and pleural plaques according to sex, age and duration of exposure. In conclusion, pleural plaque and pulmonary fibrosis are common asbestos-related CT finding in the exposed people. Asbestos related lung parenchymal CT findings in the participants with environmental exposure show similar to those observed in the occupational exposure.

Keywords: Asbestos; Asbestosis; Environmental Exposure; Multidetector Computed Tomography; Plaque; Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Fig. 1. Flow chart of participant selection.

Fig. 2. CT images of a 72-yr-old man with 72 yr residence history. (A) Prone positioned HRCT scan shows subpleural dot-like or branching opacities (arrows), and intralobular interstitial thickening (arrowheads). (B) Noncalcified thin pleural plaque is also noted in left lower posterior portion (arrow).

Fig. 3. CT images of a 77-yr-old woman with 69 yr residence history. (A) Prone positioned HRCT scan shows parenchymal band in right mid lobe and left lower lobe (arrows). (B) Multifocal bilateral discontinuous calcified (arrows) and noncalcified (arrowheads) pleural plaques are also noted in mediastinal and bilateral lower posterior areas.