Gallium‐67 citrate imaging in underground coal miners

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Abstract
Twenty‐two underground coal workers with 27 or more years of coal dust exposure were studied with gallium‐67 citrate (Ga‐67) imaging. Radiographic evidence of coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP) was present in 12 subjects. The Ga‐67 scan was abnormal in 11 of 12 with, and 9 of 10 without, CWP. The Ga‐67 uptake index was significantly correlated with total dust exposure (p < 0.01) and approached significant correlation with the radiographic profusion of the nodules (0.10 > p > 0.05). There was no correlation between Ga‐67 uptake and spirometric function, which was normal in this group of patients; furthermore, increased lung uptake of gallium did not indicate a poor prognosis in subjects no longer exposed to coal dust. While coal dust exposure may be associated with positive Ga‐67 lung scan in coal miners with many years of coal dust exposure, the scan provided no information not already available from a careful exposure history and a chest radiograph. Since Ga‐67 scanning is a relatively expensive procedure we would recommend that its use in subjects with asymptomatic CWP be limited to an investigative role and not be made part of a routine evaluation.