Chronic beryllium disease: diagnosis, radiographic findings, and correlation with pulmonary function tests

Patients with suspected chronic beryllium disease underwent bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage. Their bronchoalveolar lymphocytes were incubated with beryllium salts, and quantitative lymphocyte transformation was measured. Seventeen patients with a positive lymphocyte proliferation test were evaluated radiographically with the International Labour Office classification. The most common radiographic abnormalities included diffuse small round and reticular opacities. Hilar adenopathy, linear scars, lung distortion, bullae, and pleural thickening were found less commonly. Specific radiographic findings were compared with pulmonary function abnormalities. The extent of radiographic profusion of small opacities and the presence of linear scars did not correlate with pulmonary function abnormalities. There was, however, a significant correlation between extensive pleural disease and reduced vital capacity in this small group of patients.