Variability in interpretation among B-readers in the U.S. Navy Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program.

U.S. Navy Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program B-reading reports were analyzed for variability in identifying pneumoconiosis in 278,944 chest radiographs done from 1990 to 2004 using commercial database and statistical software.

Changes in B-readings over time in the United States Navy Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program.

Objective: To study the impact of variability among B-readers on clinical occupational medicine.

Methods: A total of 419,770 B-reading reports from February 1980 to May 2004 in the US Navy Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program were analyzed for changes in category from the previous B-reading on each individual worker.

Results: Over 7% of films were categorized as worse (ie, read as going from negative to positive), and over 6% were categorized as better.

Navy Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program 1990-1999: demographic features and trends in abnormal radiographic findings.

A 10-year cross-sectional analysis was conducted for 233,353 radiographic examinations performed as part of the Navy Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program. Demographic and temporal trends in abnormal radiographs were assessed during this analysis. Abnormal radiograph prevalence increased significantly with age, and abnormal radiographs were nearly 30 times more likely to occur among participants 60 to 69 years of age, compared with participants < 20 years of age (odds ratio, 27.

Trends in pleural radiographic findings in the Navy Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program (1990-1999).

The U.S. Navy Asbestos Medical Surveillance Program is a comprehensive effort to decrease exposure to asbestos, a known health hazard.