Other uncommon pneumoconiosis

Abstract

Radiological findings for graphite pneumoconiosis, aluminum pneumoconiosis, talc pneumoconiosis, chronic berylliosis, kaolin pneumoconiosis, and mixed dust pneumoconiosis are described. Although high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings for these pneumoconioses are variable and nonspecific, there are predominant and characteristic findings for each type of pneumoconiosis. In graphite pneumoconiosis and kaolin pneumoconiosis, large opacities can be seen in the upper zones of the lung. Radiological findings for chronic berylliosis are similar to those for sarcoidosis. Some cases of graphite pneumoconiosis, mixed dust pneumoconiosis, and aluminum pneumoconiosis are similar to idiopathic interstitial pneumonias radiologi-cally. HRCT is useful in achieving more accurate categorization of the parenchymal changes in each type of pneumoconiosis.