CT findings in silicosis due to denim sandblasting

The purpose of this study was to describe the findings of CT performed on denim sandblasters with silicosis. Fifty consecutive male patients with silicosis were evaluated. Their clinical data and pulmonary function tests (PFT) were obtained. The CT findings were recorded and the correlations between CT nodular profusion score and the other parameters were assessed. The diagnoses of the patients were classified as accelerated silicosis (n=43) and acute silicosis (n=7). The most common CT finding was centrilobular nodules. Twenty-three patients had complicated silicosis based on pleural involvement and presence of progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). Lymphadenopathy (LAP) was positive in 50% of the patients, with calcification in 24%. The CT grade was highly correlated with the clinical data such as exposure duration and PFT. Our findings suggest that the clinical manifestation of silicosis in denim sandblasters is severe. Although the duration of exposure is shorter the rate of complicated silicosis patients with pleural involvement was unexpectedly higher in the cases. Because the most common radiological appearance was nodules and the CT grading of the nodules was highly correlated with the clinical data, nodule grading may be used in the management of such cases.