Diagnostic imaging of silicosis

Silicosis is one of pneumoconiosis group that often occurs due to inhalation of crystalline silica dust into lung tissue. In silicosis diagnostic imaging, generally using chest X-ray because it has relatively low radiation dosages, cheap, and widely available. However, HRCT High Resolution Computed Tomography is more often used nowadays to detect early silicosis. HRCT has been shown to be better than chest X-ray in detecting silicotic nodules and can also provide useful information about the stage of the disease, because it can show an agglomeration of nodules and the development of conglomerate masses that may not be seen on chest X-ray and are also superior in occurrence observation and the degree of emphysema.