Distribution of Radiological Appearance of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in Taiwan
Resource
CHINESE JOURNAL OF FAMILY MEDICINE v.9 n.9 pp.201-207
Journal
CHINESE JOURNAL OF FAMILY MEDICINE
Journal Volume
v.9
Journal Issue
n.9
Pages
201-207
Date Issued
1999
Date
1999
Author(s)
YANG, SHIEH-CHING
YEOH, CHUAN-ING
LEE, THUNG-LIP
Abstract
Coal workers'pneumoconiosis (CWP) is one of the most common occupational lung disease. However, basic informa- tion concerning CWP here in Taiwan is still inadequate. In order to understand the distribution of radiological fea- tures of the disease by the categories of CWP in Taiwan coal workers, we conducted this study on 255 men who had worked underground at coal fields and had evidences of dust deposition on their chest radiographs. Chest X-rays of a standard size were read by two physicians using the cri- teria of the ILO classification of radiographs for pneu- moconiosis. The X-ray findings were assessed by the rel- ationship with coal working exposure. Our data revealed thatof the 255 coal workers with CWP, 197(77%) had simple pneumoconiosis and 58(23%) had progressive massive fibrosis( PMF) according to the shape and size of opacities. Eighty percent of the subjects with simple pneumoconiosis were classified into either Category 1 or 2 (approximately half- and-half) by profusion of small opacities. For PMF, 53%(31/ 58) of the men were with Category A, and only 9%(5/58)were with Category C. Average working years underground for min- ers with PMF was significantly longer than those with Category 1 or 2 simple pneumoconiosis (p<0.05). These findings suggest that a relatively high attack rate of PMF is present in Taiwan coal workers with CWP, and the lon- ger duration of underground exposure is related to the development of a higher category of pneumoconiosis. (Chin J Fam Med 1999;9:201-7)