Abstract
The authors observed 113 patients with silicosis, classified roentogenologically according to the criteria proposed by the Ministry of Labor of Japan. Percentage of roentogenologic findings (including large opacities) were as follows: P:48%, m:27%, n:4%, p+A:2%, p+B:6%, p+c:3%, m+A:2%, m+B:7%, m+C:1%, (PR1:11, PR2:5, PR3:27) Patients revealed that the greater part of disorders was expiratory obstruction, but this seemed to be slight in the P group. Exercise Index ranged from 20% to 70% but it was from 20% to 30%. As to MBC (obs./pred.), in the P group it ranged from 60% to 90%, while in the m group it was from 30% to 60% generally. As to Ventilation Index, P group showed similar values as the m group, and most of both groups were under 40. Residual rate ranged chiefly from 30% to 40%, and in the P group it was mostly under 30%, while in the m group it was considerably over 40% Compliancies were low generally and remained under 150cc/cmH2O. Oximeter rate ranged from -5% to -10%. Taking the above as a whole, it may be considered that pulmonary functions in the P group was better than those of the m group in PR2.
