Initially, the first investigation recommended to diagnose occupational lung disease is a chest x-ray. A high resolution chest CT scan or “thin-section” CT may be helpful in the further diagnosis of occupational lung disease. Findings on CT scan suggestive of occupational lung disease include nodules with sharp margination, opacities, lymph node hyperplasia and egg shell calcification, and interlobular septal thickening and intralobular lines.

• A high resolution chest CT scan or “thin-section” CT may be helpful in the diagnosis of occupational lung disease.
• Findings on CT scan suggestive of occupational lung disease include:^[1][2][3][4]
  • Nodules with sharp margination
  • Opacities
  • Lymph node hyperplasia and egg shell calcification
  • Interlobular septal thickening and intralobular lines
  • Ground glass opacities
  • Consolidations
  • Reticular opacities
  • Traction bronchiectasis
  • Pleural plaques
    • Described as “table-mountain plaques” in asbestosis
  • Pleural thickening
  • Thick interlobular fissures
  • Tumor spread
  • Parenchymal bands
  • Atelectasis
    • Rounded atelectasis or Blesolvsky’s sign is a pseudotumor that presents with asbestosis