Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search


Español  Other Languages


An official website of the United States government Here's how you know
 Official icon**Official websites use .gov**
				A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Lock icon**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
				A lock (  ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
	CDC LogoCDC Logo
 Search

		×
			NIOSH
			NIOSH

				All CDC
				Submit


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)





Study Syllabus for Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses						Print
																Related Pages
										Radiograph ClassificationSubset 1Section 3: Pleural Abnormalities (Continued)
3C. Costophrenic Angle Obliteration
3B. Pleural Plaques form sampleCostophrenic angle obliteration should not be confused with the normal muscle slip attachments of the diaphragm. It is of special relevance in asbestos-exposed people, but it frequently occurs, at least unilaterally, in those not exposed to asbestos or other dusts. Accordingly, minimal costophrenic angle blunting is not to be reported.
The ILO 2011D Standard Radiograph illustrating profusion subcategory **1/1** for small opacity **t/t** represents the lower limit of costophrenic angle obliteration that should be recorded. Therefore, the appearance of the right costophrenic angle seen in **Radiograph #15C** is not to be recorded, whereas that seen in **Radiograph #15D** is to be recorded.
If costophrenic angle obliteration is present, whether or not associated with diffuse pleural thickening of the chest wall or diaphragm, check **R** or **L** or both to indicate its anatomic distribution; if none is present, check “NO” and proceed to Section 4A. By convention, diffuse pleural thickening should be recorded in a hemithorax only in the presence of, and in continuity with obliteration of the costophrenic angle. If pleural thickening obliterates the costophrenic angle and involves the chest wall, the costophrenic angle obliteration and the upward extension of thickened pleura should each be classified as explained below (see Section 3D).
3D. Diffuse Pleural Thickening (Radiographs #18 to #19)
3C. Costophrenic Angle Obliteration form sampleDiffuse pleural thickening is seen in many non-pneumoconiotic disease processes and likely represents thickening of the visceral pleura. Similar to plaque, diffuse pleural thickening may occur in profile or face on. The term “diffuse” indicates a homogeneous involvement to produce a “... general veiling of lung parenchymal detail”.
If diffuse pleural thickening is seen along the inner margin of the lateral chest wall in continuity with an obliterated costophrenic angle and as a homogeneous shadow, sharply outlined medially by adjacent lung, the thickening is then categorized as in profile. A minimum width of about 3 mm is required for in-profile diffuse pleural thickening to be recorded. On the frontal radiograph, diffuse pleural thickening involving the anterior chest wall may partially obscure lung detail or “veil” the lung. When this veiling is seen, the diffuse pleural thickening is categorized as face on.RADIOGRAPHS #16 AND #17 (CON'T.)Page 5 of 7RADIOGRAPHS #18 AND #19 (CON'T)
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  April 26, 2023						Source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
					Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate homeStudy Syllabus for Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses
Introductionplus icon
Preface
Appreciation to Contributors
Intent of the Self-study Syllbus
Getting Started
Clinical Overviewplus icon
Major Occupational Lung Diseasesplus icon
Pneumoconioses
Central Role of Diagnostic Imagingplus icon
Role of CT
Overview of Nonimaging Clinical Tools in Lung Disease Diagnosis
Appendix A
References
Pathology Overviewplus icon
Pulmonary Silicosis
Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis
Asbestos Pleuropulmonary Disease
Pathological-Clinical Correlations
References
Radiograph Classificationplus icon
SUBSET 1 – Radiograph Classification, #1 to #19plus icon
Introduction
Radiograph Identification
Section 1: Image Quality
Section 2: Parenchymal Abnormalities, #1 to #14
Section 3: Pleural Abnormalities, #15 to #19
Section 4: Any Other Abnormalities
Section 5
SUBSET 2 – Radiograph #20 to #27plus icon
Radiograph #20
Radiograph #21
Radiograph #22
Radiograph #23
Radiograph #24
Radiographs #25 to #27
SUBSET 3 – Radiograph #28 to #38plus icon
Radiographs #28 to #30
Radiographs #31 to #32
Radiographs #33 to #35
Radiographs #36 to #38
SUBSET 4 – Radiograph #39 to #46 (Small and Large Opacities)plus icon
Radiographs #39 to #40
Radiographs #41 to #42
Radiographs #43 to #44
Radiograph #45
Radiograph #46
SUBSET 5 – Classifications and Answer Keys, Radiographs #47 to #83
Quiz Error processing SSI file  Follow NIOSH Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
YouTube
 NIOSH Homepage NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs
Contact NIOSH


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue