pulmonary function findings

hotmail.com Background Pneumoconiosis is a form of diffuse interstitial lung disease, often resulting from occupational expo-sures. As dental prosthetic technicians (DPTs) build prostheses, they are exposed to many chemical materials that increase their risk of developing pneumoconiosis. Aims To document pulmonary function and prevalence of pneumoconiosis in DPTs. Methods A cross-sectional study of DPTs working in prosthetic laboratories who underwent pulmonary func-tion test and high-resolution chest computed tomography (HRCT) scanning. Results There were 76 participants and pneumoconiosis was diagnosed in 46%. The most commonly seen radiological finding was round opacities, present in 38%. Agreement among HRCT readers was moderate to good. As defined by HRCT, emphysema was diagnosed more often in those with a longer occupational history or a history of smoking, and low carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO), but not in those with pneumoconiosis. Forced expiratory rate and DLCO were signifi-cantly lower in those who had worked 16 years or more (all P < 0.05). DLCO values were signifi-cantly lower in technicians with emphysema and in current smokers (all P < 0.01). Round opacitie