Pneumoconiosis

The term pneumoconiosis refers to lung disease related to dust inhalation. The inhaled particles produce a pulmonary reaction that may result in fibrosis as with asbestosis or silicosis or may result in a macrophage reaction with little fibrosis. Three key features must be addressed in a potential case of pneumoconiosis: identification of imaging signs of exposure, location of imaging findings and distribution of imaging abnormalities. Patients with pneumoconiosis may present with very subtle abnormalities usually well characterized on thin section CT or HRCT. When areas of cavitation are seen, tuberculosis must be considered in association with silicosis and coal worker pneumoconiosis. In addition, any noncalcified or indeterminate pulmonary nodule must be carefully assessed as some pneumoconioses, most notably silicosis and asbestosis, result in a higher incidence of primary lung cancer.