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Study Syllabus for Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses
Radiograph Classification
Subset 1
Section 4: Any Other Abnormalities (Con’t.)
4B. Other Symbols (Obligatory) (Con’t.)
| Symbol | Definition |
|---|---|
| aa | atherosclerotic aorta. |
| at | significant apical pleural thickening. |
| ax | coalescence of small pneumoconiotic opacities (discussed and illustrated in subset 4). |
| bu | one or more bulla(e). |
| ca | cancer of the lung. If one considers that a large opacity might be due to pneumoconiosis but might equally well represent a malignancy, then Section 2C LARGE OPACITIES should be completed, the symbol “ca” should also be checked and an appropriate comment should be written in Section 4D. If one believes that a large opacity truly represents a malignancy and is not a manifestation of pneumoconiosis (as might be the case in the absence of small pneumoconiotic opacities), “ca” should be checked. However, Section 2C LARGE OPACITIES should not be completed, and a comment stating where the malignancy is seen should be entered in Section 4D. Pleural mesothelioma is not recorded here but rather as “me” (see below). |
| cg | calcified non-pneumoconiotic nodules (e.g. granuloma) or hilar/mediastinal lymph nodes. |
| cn | calcification in small pneumoconiotic opacities (not to be confused with calcified granulomas). |
| co | an abnormality of the cardiac size or shape. |
| cp | cor pulmonale. |
| cv | cavity |
| di | marked distortion of intrathoracic organs (see elevated left hilum in Radiograph #14). |
| ef | pleural effusion. |
| em | emphysema. |
| es | eggshell calcification of hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes. |
| fr | fractured rib(s) (acute or healed). |
| hi | enlargement of non-calcified hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes. |
| ho | honeycomb lung (see Radiograph #7, t/t – 3/3). |
| id | ill-defined diaphragm (if more than one-third of one hemidiaphragm is involved). |
| ih | ill-defined heart outline (if the length of the heart border affected, whether on the right or on the left side, is more than one-third of the length of the left heart border.) |
| kl | kerley lines, septal lines (See Radiograph #6, s/s – 3/3). |
| me | mesothelioma. |
| pa | plate atelectasis. |
| pb | parenchymal bands (significant parenchymal fibrotic strands in continuity with the pleura). |
| pi | pleural thickening of an interlobar fissure (a thickened minor fissure is seen in Radiograph #6, s/s – 3/3). |
| px | pneumothorax. |
| ra | rounded atelectasis. |
| rp | rheumatoid pneumoconiosis (Illustrated on the 1/1 p/p standard radiograph). |
| tb | tuberculosis (excluding the calcified primary complex). |
Some of these symbols are illustrated in this subset; others will be illustrated in subsequent material.
Check all appropriate boxes in Section 4B.
The symbols in Section 4B do not encompass all possible abnormalities potentially present in a chest radiograph. If findings are present other than those represented by the symbols found in Section 4B, or if further description or discussion of the findings is needed, then make entries as appropriate in sections 4C and/or 4E. If you are the first reader, please be sure to notify the worker or his or her personal physician, and enter the date of such notification in the blocks to the right in Section 4D.