ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses

21 February 2023

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The Classification provides a means for describing and recording systematically the radiographic abnormalities in the chest provoked by the inhalation of dusts. It is used to describe radiographic abnormalities that occur in any type of pneumoconiosis and is designed for classifying only the appearances seen on postero-anterior chest radiographs.

The object of the ILO Classification is to codify the radiographic abnormalities of the pneumoconioses in a simple, reproducible manner. The ILO Classification is used internationally for epidemiological research, for screening and surveillance of those in dusty occupations, and for clinical purposes.

The ILO Classification consists of the Guidelines for the use of the ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconiosis along with a set of standard radiographs. The Guidelines is a technical publication designed to standardise classification methods and to facilitate international comparison of pneumoconiosis statistics and research reports.

The 2022 revised edition of the ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconiosis transitions the ILO classification to using a new set of digitally acquired radiographic standard images. This new set of digital images replaces the previous set of digitized analog standard images used in the 2011 edition.

Guidelines for the use of the ILO International Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses – revised edition 2022

Set of digitally acquired radiographic standard images in DICOM format

The ILO radiographic standard images are provided in DICOM format to be used for classification purposes in a clinical environment with medical diagnostic monitors.

The DICOM images should be viewed with a medical image software or DICOM viewer.

Set of digitally acquired radiographic standard images in JPEG format

The ILO radiographic standard images are provided in JPEG format for use in educational or informational presentations and viewing in a non-clinical environment. The JPEG files should not be used for classification purposes.

The JPEG images can be viewed with any image viewing software, web browser, or office productivity software.

Users are authorized to reproduce the images subject to due acknowledgment to the original source.