Differences of CT pulmonary function indexes in asbestosis patients engaged in different types of work

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the changes and characteristics of pulmonary function in asbestosis patients engaged in different types of work by multi-slice spiral CT imaging. Methods Total 30 asbestosis patients were equally divided into three groups, who engaged in the work of raw asbestos processing, fiber combing and pressure molding, respectively. The pulmonary volume, pulmonary density and pulmonary small airway indexes were measured by a whole lung scanning at maximum inspiratory and maximum expiratory efforts. The pulmonary volume indexes include maximum inspiratory volume, maximum expiratory volume, pulmonary volume difference and pulmonary volume ratio. The mean pulmonary density indexes include the mean pulmonary densities after inspiratory and expiratory activities, pulmonary density difference and pulmonary density ratio. The small airway indexes include the diameter ratios of the wall after inspiratory and expiratory activities and the percentage of bronchial wall area after inspiratory activity. Results The differences of the gender, age, stage, and contact history of the patients are not statistically significant for all the groups (all P>0.05). The differences of the mean pulmonary densities after expiratory activity, the left and right pulmonary densities after expiratory activities, pulmonary density ratio, diameter ratios of the wall after inspiratory and expiratory activities, and the percentage of bronchial wall area after inspiratory activity are statistically significant among the three groups (all P 0.05). The differences among the three groups in other indexes are not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Conclusions The emphysema with fibrous thickening in the alveolar septum and small airway wall is more severe in the workers who engaged in asbestos fiber combing comparing with in raw asbestos processing and asbestos pressure molding. Therefore, the medical protection of these groups of patients should be strengthened. Key words: Asbestosis; Respiratory dysfunction; Occupation