Quantifying whole lung iron oxide deposition with dual-energy CT for diagnosis of arc-welders’ pneumoconiosis

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Arc-welders’ pneumoconiosis (AWP) results from prolonged inhalation of welding fumes and can lead to severe lung conditions, including fibrosis and cancer.
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Current AWP diagnosis relies on clinical evaluation, imaging, and pathology, but existing methods face challenges due to nonspecific findings and smoking histories.
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Dual-energy CT (DECT) technology allows for improved imaging by quantifying iron oxide deposition, potentially enhancing AWP diagnosis accuracy.
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The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Fe2O3-based material decomposition images in DECT for differentiating AWP from other lung conditions.
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Participants in the study include arc-welders, patients with diffuse lung lesions, and healthy controls, with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria for accuracy.

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