Occupational lung disease other diagnostic studies

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]

Other diagnostic studies for occupational lung disease include spirometry, which distinguishes obstructive from restrictive lung disease.

• Other diagnostic studies for occupational lung disease include:^[1]
  • Spirometry, which demonstrates:
    • Forced vital capacity
    • Forced expiratory volume in one second
  • A normal result is equal to approximately 0.8
  • A result of < 0.8 indicates an obstructive lung disease
  • A result of > 0.8 indicates a restrictive lung disease
  • Bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage, which demonstrates:
    • Blockages
    • Foreign bodies
    • Anatomy
    • May be used to take a biopsy or cellular sample