Radiographs showing some features of silicotuberculosis or tuberculosis in silica exposed individuals are in this section of the repository.

Reading chest radiographs is subjective and there is inter- and intra-reader variability. Also, even experienced readers may find it difficult to distinguish confidently between radiologic silicosis, inactive and active tuberculosis, and concurrent disease. Consequently, the reported radiologic changes are not presented as the “truth”, rather what experienced readers observed and concluded about the presence of silicosis, tuberculosis, or  both. ( “Tuberculosis” does not exclude NTM disease; the radiologic features may overlap and not all cases had bacteriological confirmation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis disease. )  Many radiologic features observable on the chest radiographs are not reported.

The ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses includes a guide on the Classification’s use “Guidelines for the use of the ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses.” Chapter 6 of the Revised edition 2022 “Using the ILO Classification for Digital Chest Radiographs” contains useful information for readers on viewing principles for reading digital films. (Analogue radiographs should be read using The Classification’s analogue standard radiographs, for example those accompanying the  2011 revised edition.)

Illustrative chest radiographs

Comments on the radiographs and the Notable features related to them are welcome. Email info@nioh.ac.za

Radiographs 1-2                              Prof. Albert Solomon

Radiographs 3-10                            Dr Botembetume Maboso

Note:

Maboso et al. 2022 available in the Articles section of this repository has exposure, clinical and radiological information on Case 3 (Case 1 in the article), Case 5 (Case  2 in the article), Case 9 (Case  3) and Case 10 (Case 4).