[Asbestos-related diseases of the thorax].

Asbestos fibers can lead to pulmonary fibrosis, thickening of the pleura and malignancies. These pathologic changes are possible rather than determinate and depend on the type of asbestos fiber, length of exposure to fibers and individual factors. In Germany asbestos fibers were widely used until 1993.

[Examples for asbestos-related findings in HRCT - criteria for the assessment of causal relationships in surveillance programmes and medical expert opinion].

The increasing use of high-resolution computed tomography in formerly asbestos-exposed workers requires valid diagnostic criteria for the findings which have to be reported as suspicious for being asbestos-related in surveillance programmes and for the assessment of causal relationships between former asbestos exposure and findings in computed tomography. The present article gives examples for asbestos-related findings in HR-CT and discusses the specificity of parenchymal and pleural changes due to asbestos fibres.

[Recommendations for reporting benign asbestos-related findings in chest X-ray and CT to the accident insurances].

Asbestos-related diseases still play an important role in occupational medicine. The detection of benign asbestos-related diseases is one condition for the compensation of asbestos-related lung cancer in Germany. Due to the increasing use of computed tomography, asbestos-related diseases are more frequently detected in the early stages.

[Digital radiography in chest imaging of occupational and environmental lung diseases].

The classification of pneumoconiosis according to ILO standard - comparing a X-ray of the lung with ILO radiographs - is well established in Germany. The extension of digital imaging is a challenging task in occupational medicine as well as in pneumology. Technical requirements are not known sufficiently and the necessary equipment is not well distributed.

[Diagnostic imaging of pulmonary lymphangiosis carcinomatosis].

The diagnosis of pulmonary lymphangiosis carcinomatosa (PLC) is of great importance for the prognostically-oriented therapy stratification of tumor patients. In this field, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the state of the art in imaging. Using HRCT, it is possible to identify pulmonary parenchymal structures in a detailed fashion to evaluate interstitial patterns.

[Further development of the International Pneumoconiosis Classification--from ILO 1980 to ILO 2000 and to ILO 2000/German Federal Republic version].

The ILO (1980) Classification has been revised during recent years. The new version is now available as the International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses (Revised edition 2000). The Guidelines booklet is currently available only in English.

[Chest examination protocol with a reduced dose using a multi-slice spiral CT].

Purpose: Comparison of multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) for examination of the chest using two protocols differing in tube voltage (kV) and effective tube current (mAs), as to image quality, diagnostic quality and radiation dose.

Material And Methods: Re-staging examinations of 20 patients with bronchial carcinoma on a MSCT (Somatom Volume Zoom, Siemens AG, Forchheim) with 140 kV/100 mAseff and again after an average interval of 4.5 months, a second examination using 120 kV/80 mAseff, employing identical detector width (4 x 2.

[Pleural diseases in magnetic resonance tomography (MRT)].

MR images of 48 patients with histologically confirmed benign and malignant diseases of the pleura were retrospectively compared with CT and bioptically/surgically obtained findings. In 47/48 patients pathological changes of the pleura were visualized by increased signal intensities on T2-weighted and contrast enhanced T1-weighted MR images. This lead to a slightly improved sensitivity compared to CT, where pathological pleura findings were confirmed in 45/48 patients.

[Magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) in pleural diseases. A comparison with CT and histopathological findings].

The MRI and CT appearances in 48 patients with histologically confirmed benign and malignant pleural abnormalities were compared retrospectively. Abnormal pleural changes were shown in 47 out of the 48 patients by high signal intensity of the pleura in T2-weighted sequences and in contrast enhanced T1-weighted sequences on MRI. CT showed abnormalities in 45 out of 48 patients.

[The place of computed tomography in the staging of bronchial carcinoma. A retrospective study].

The conventional radiological and CT findings in 347 patients with confirmed bronchial carcinomas have been compared. In 184 patients subjected to surgery, the post-operative TNM classification was compared with the pre-operative CT staging. It was found that CT staging of the T-classification was correct in 82% and of the lymph nodes in 62.

[Computed tomographic findings in extrinsic allergic alveolitis. Comparison with conventional x-ray findings].

Seventeen patients with extrinsic allergic alveolitis or bird-fancier's lung were examined by standard radiological techniques and classified after Hapke's classification. In addition, the patients were examined by CT. The CT patterns have been analysed and compared with standard radiological findings.

[Value of computer tomography in the diagnosis of thoracic sarcoidosis].

The paper deals with our experience with computed tomography in thoracal sarcoidosis. This method allows a good judgement of lymph nodes in mediastinum and statements, which stand out from conventional roentgenologic diagnostic. In recording of enlarged hilar lymph nodes these methods are equal.