Pleural lesions and the ILO classification: The need for a revision

摘要

AbstractThe ILO system for radiographic classification of pneumoconioses is a very important epidemiological tool. Unfortunately, the classification is not precise for pleural lesions, which are especially important for evaluation of asbestos‐related diseases. The classification cannot separate extrapleural fat from diffuse thickening of the pleura, nor large plaques from diffuse thickening. In this paper, a short review of the different lesions are given and a revised scheme is suggested. This scheme includes as separate lesions: pleural fat; lesions of the parietal pleura, i.e., pleural plaques; and lesions of the visceral pleura, i.e., diffuse thickening and rounded atelectasis. The extent and width, as in the present ILO scheme, could be abolishe