Environmental Public Health Commons^™

Do The Medical History Or Physical Examination Predict Low Lung Function?, David M. Mannino, Ruth A. Etzel, W. Dana Flanders

David M. Mannino

Background: We sought to determine whether an abnormal respiratory history or chest physical examination could be used to identify men with low lung function.Methods: We analyzed pulmonary function, physical examination, and questionnaire data from 4461 middle-aged male Vietnam-era army veterans.Main Results: The study sample consisted of 1161 never smokers, 1292 former smokers, and 2008 current smokers. Clinical indicators of respiratory disease (respiratory symptoms, respiratory signs, or a history of respiratory disease), were present in 26.1% of the never smokers, 31.7% of the former smokers, and 47.2% of the current smokers. We defined low forced expiratory volume in 1 second as …

Classification Of Radiographs For Pneumoconiosis: A Comparison Of Digitized Images And Conventional Radiographs, David M. Mannino, Rd Kennedy, Tk Hodous

David M. Mannino

To purchase full article: http://radiology.rsna.org/content/187/3/791.abstract

The classification of pneumoconiosis on 108 paired radiographs obtained in coal miners was compared by using conventional radiograph film images and digitized images of those conventional film images. Conventional film images and digitized images were each independently read in a random order in two separate sessions by three radiologists certified as "B" readers. Overall, the digitized images were perceived as being of better quality than the conventional film images (radiograph quality grade 1, 48% [617 of 1,292 classifications] vs 37% [482 of 1,296], respectively; P < .001). The mean International Labour Office (ILO) scores for small-opacity profusion were similar between the digitized images and conventional film images (3.14 vs 3.24, respectively; P = .19). The mean absolute differences in small-opacity profusion score between radiograph pairs were also similar (0.74 vs 0.77, respectively; P = .50). No difference in the ILO type of opacity was noted between the display modes. Interpretation of digitized images for pneumoconiotic small opacities was shown to be an acceptable alternative to interpretation of conventional film images; the important problem of reader variability affects both display modes.