CT-pathologic Correlation In Experimental Animal Silicosis Of Different Times

Purpose : Investigate the CT features of experimental animal silicosis.Methods: 9 rabbits chosen randomly from 12 ordinary rabbits were given a single intratracheal injecrion of 1 ml silicosis dust suspension as silicosis group. In month 2, 4, 6 silicosis administration, CT-pathologic related researches were performed in vivo and in vitro using inflated and fixed lung specimens.Result: Rabbit exposed to silica dust could be found multiple white points or patchy spots dusts, even some could be fused. Consistented with the pathologic findings, the silicosis group CT showed the pulmonary lesions aggravated progressively. In 2 month, silicotic nodules formatted along pulmonary bronchial, which mainly composed by macrophages, and it is showed patchy high density with a clear edge mainly in the hilum of lung in CT. In 4 month, fibrocytes and fibroblasts increased in silicotic nodules, and it is showed the pulmonary markings aggravated in CT. In 6 month, fibrocytes and fibroblasts increased obviously in silicotic nodules, and some could find fibrosis. Lung tissues around silicotic nodules maight have emphysema. It was showed high point density and brightness increased partly in CT.Conclusion: Using quartz suspension perfuse in rabbits trachea can be successfully established rabbit madel of silicosis. The rabbits exemplar of silicosis can imitate the process of the development of silicosis well.