Abstract
Pulmonary inflammation has been evaluated in 43 crocidolite-exposed asbestos (ASB) workers and 12 control subjects, using a quantitative index of gallium uptake (GI). The GI was compared with chest roentgenographs (CXRs) graded by the ILO classification. The ASB workers included 15 with asbestosis (CXR≥1/0), 19 with a normal CXR (CXR 0/0), and 9 with equivocal CXR changes (CXR 0/1). In individuals with asbestosis the GI was 3.6±0.3 (mean ± SEM),P < 0.01 compared with exposed patients without asbestosis. In exposed patients with equivocal CXR changes (0/1) the GI was 3.1±0.3, and in exposed patients with a normal CXR (0/0) the GI was 2.4±0.2 The GI for subjects without lung disease was 1.2±0.2,P<0.01 compared with exposed patients without asbestosis. The scans were scored independently by two observers, and the correlation coefficient of the two sets of GI was 0.95. These data demonstrate that subjects with crocidolite-induced asbestosis and exposed patients with equivocal CXR changes or a normal CXR have significantly increased GI.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Begin R, Cantin A, Drapeau G, Lamoureux G, Boctor M, Masse S, Rola-Pleszczynski M (1983) Pulmonary uptake of gallium-67 in asbestos-exposed humans and sheep. Am Rev Respir Dir 127:623–630
Begin R, Cantin A, Berthiaume Y, Boileau R, Bisson G, Lamourcaux G, Rola-Pleszczynski M, Drapeau G, Massé S, Boctor M (1985) Clinical features to stage the alveolitis in asbestos workers. Am J Indust Med 8:402–417
Bisson G, Drapeau G, Lamoureux G, Cantin A, Rola-Pleszczynski M, Begin R (1983) Computer-based quantitative analysis of gallium-67 uptake in normal and diseased lungs. Chest 5:513–517
Bisson G, Lamoureux G, Begin R (1987) Quantitative gallium 67 lung scan to assess the inflammatory activity in the pneumoconioses. Sem Nucl Med 1: 72–80
Cookson WOCM, DeKlerk NH, Musk AW, Armstrong BK, Glancy JJ, Hobbs MST (1986) Prevalence of radiographic asbestosis in crocidolite miners and millers at Wittenoom, Western Australia. Br J Ind Med 43:450–457
Cotes JE (1979) Lung function: assessment and application in medicine. 4th edn Blackwell, Chicago
Crystal RG, Gadek JE, Ferrans VJ, Fulmer JD, Line BR, Hunninghake GW (1981) Interstitial lung disease: current concepts of pathogenesis, staging and therapy. Am J Med 70:542–568
de Klerk NH, Armstrong BK, Musk AW, Hobbs MST (1989) Predictions of future asbestos-related disease among former miners and millers of crocidolite in Western Australia. Med J Aust 151:616–620
International Labor Office (1980) Guidelines for use of ILO international classification of radiographs of pneumoconiosis. International Labor Office, Geneva, pp 1–148
Kinoshita F, Ushio T, Maekawa A, Ariwa R, Kubo A (1974) Scintiscanning of pulmonary diseases with Ga-67 citrate. J Nucl Med 15:227–233
Larson SM, Milder MS, Johnston GS (1973) Interpretation of the 67-Ga photoscan. J Nucl Med 14:208–214
Line BR, Fulmer JD, Reynolds HR, Roberts WC, Jones AE, Harris EK, Crystal RG (1978) Gallium-67 citrate scanning in the staging of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: correlation with physiologic and morphologic features and bronchoalveolar lavage. Am Rev Respir Dis 118:355–365
McLean RG, Steele P, Murray IPC (1985) Quantitation of pulmonary gallium-67 uptake: comparison of computer-derived indices. Nucl Med Comm 6:425–433
Miller A, Thornton JC, Warshaw R, Anderson H, Teirstein AS, Selikoff IJ (1983) Single breath diffusing capacity in a representative sample of the population of Michigan, a large industrial state. Am Rev Respir Dis 127:270–277
Niden AH, Mishkir FS, Khurana HML (1982) Gallium 67 citrate scan in interstitial lung disease. Chest 82:216
Rohatgi PK, Bates HR, Noss RW (1985) Computer-assisted segmental quantitative analysis of gallium scans in pulmonary sarcoidosis. Eur J Respir Dis 66:248–255
Siemsen JK, Grebe SF, Sargent EN, Wentz D (1976) Gallium-67 scintigraphy of pulmonary diseases as a complement to radiography. Radiology 118:371–375
Specht HD, Brown PH, Haines JE, McNeill M (1987) Gallium-67 lung index computerization in interstitial pneumonitis. J Nucl Med 28:1826–1830
van Unnik JG, van Royen EA, Alberts C, van der Schoot JB (1983) A method of quantitative67Ga scintigraphy in the evaluation of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Eur J Nucl Med 8:351–353
Wesselius LJ, Witztum KF, Taylor AT, Hartman MT, Moser KM (1983) Computer-assisted versus visual lung gallium-67 index in normal subjects and in patients with interstitial lung disorders. Am Rev Respir Dis 128: 1084–1089
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hayes, A.A., Thickbroom, G.W., Guelfi, G.R. et al. Computer quantitation of gallium 67 lung uptake in crocidolite (blue asbestos) workers of Western Australia. Eur J Nucl Med 16, 855–858 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01280251
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01280251