Purpose.

To determine the diagnostic efficiency of radiography and computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

Materials and methods. 105 patients with suspected pneumoconiosis were examined at the Clinical IRIOH (Moscow) and the Orenburg Regional Clinical Hospital №2 (Orenburg) according to radiography. Patients underwent complex clinical and laboratory research, external respiration function examination, bronchoscopy and CT.

Results. Diagnosis of pneumoconiosis by computed tomography significantly exceeds the diagnosis based on the method of radiography. The sensitivity of radiography is 85,11%, specificity – 54,55%; the sensitivity of computed tomography – 98,94%, specificity – 90,0%.

After assessing the results of CT all examined with the presence of CT-picture of pneumoconiosis were divided into three groups according to the leading form: group I (n= 41) – nodular form; group II (n= 15) – interstitial form; group III (n= 38) – mixed form.

Respiratory failure was detected in 56.2% of cases of varying severity. Concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis was detected in 5 patients. Dissemination and interstitial changes were determined according by the CT. The lesions were located randomly, perilymphatic. Interstitial changes were characterized by thickening of the intra-lobular and inter-lobular interstitium in all parts of the lungs.

Conclusions. Diagnosis of pneumoconiosis by computed tomography significantly exceeds the diagnosis based on the method of radiography. The sensitivity of radiography is 85,11%, specificity – 54,55%; sensitivity of CT 98,94% and specificity – 90,0%.