Radiological assessment of small pneumoconiotic opacities.

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Abstract
Problems in the assessment of small opacities, within the ILO [International Labor Office] U/C International Classification of Radiographs of the Pneumoconioses (ILO, 1972), are discussed in the light of readings by 3 experts of a group of films in which both rounded and irregular small opacities frequently coexisted. There was considerable disagreement on whether opacities were rounded or irregular, but reasonable agreement on type (diameter or thickness). As expected, rounded opacities were more commonly recorded in upper zones of the [human] lung, and irregular opacities in lower zones. However, determination of which zones were affected left much to be desired. Perhaps as a result, major problems arose over the assessment of combined profusion.