Chest Imaging

Baritosis

a rare pneumoconiosis, even though barium compounds are widely used in industry (in alloys, glass, paints, ceramics and medical contrast material). Barium has a high radio-opacity and the disease may develop after few months of exposure. Extremely dense, discrete small opacities of 2-4 mm diameter, sometimes of a star-like configuration, are seen on the radiograph. Their distribution is uniform. When they are very numerous, superimposition may give the impression of confluency, but this does not seem to occur in reality. The hilar lymph nodes can be very opaque but not enlarged. After cessation of exposure, there is a gradual clearing of the opacities. In miners of barytes the lesions are more likely to be due to silicosis than to baritosis.

JV