Call for digitally acquired standard images

Preparation of the next edition of the ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses

The Labour Inspection, Labour Administration and Occupational Safety and Health Branch (LABADMIN/OSH) of the ILO and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), housed in the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), are cooperating in the preparation of new ILO digitally acquired standard images for the next edition of the ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses.

News | 18 November 2015
The original standards were based on film radiography, but the advent of digital radiography has led to the need for reference standards based on digitally-acquired images. NIOSH is assisting the ILO in the process of identifying such digital images. For this purpose, we would like to request trained users of the ILO Classification to:
  1. Submit comments regarding any of the current standard reference images for which improvements could be made. Note we are not soliciting comments on the structure and format of the current ILO Classification; these are to remain unchanged at the present time. For further information and submitting comments (deadline - 4 January 2016), please refer to the Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 213 / Wednesday, November 4, 2015 / Notices
  2. Contribute in locating digital images that can be used as new digital ILO standards, and for teaching and testing. Examples of minimal to severe occupational parenchymal and pleural lung disorders are sought. All radiographs demonstrating aspects of dust-related changes are welcome. The pneumoconiosis radiographs that are most needed are listed in the table below.
Most needed radiographic abnormalities [as per ILO Guidelines]:
ILO shape and size categoryILO profusion category
p type opacitiesAll profusions especially category 3/3
r type opacitiesCategory 1/1
s type opacitiesAll profusions especially category 2/2 and 3/3
t type opacitiesAll profusions
u type opacitiesAll profusions

Your help in identifying these images will assist occupational health physicians across the globe in providing accurate diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and prevention of occupational lung diseases. Your contribution to this important work will be acknowledged, unless you choose to remain unidentified. You will be supported on how submit the images as well as how the images can be made fully anonymous prior to submission. For further information and contributing, please refer to NIOSH Chest Radiography.