ILO Classification of the Pneumoconioses

This page contains the Guidelines for the use of ILO (International Labor Office) Classification of Radiographs of Pneumoconioses, Revised Edition 1980; International Labour Office Geneva. In addition to text and diagrams, this program also contains digitized versions of the Standard Radiographs. Please note: this is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be used to actually classify radiographs

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) administers a program to train and certify physicians in the use of the ILO system for classifying radiographs for the presence of pneumoconioses. A "B"; reader has taken a standardized examination designed to test the individuals knowledge and perceptual ability in classifying radiographs according to the ILO system

A list of approved B readers is available at: B readers

Gurney JW. Pneumoconiosis assistant: a hypermedia-based classification of the pneumoconioses. J Thorac Imaging 1993; 8:143-151.
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Shipley RT. The 1980 ILO classification of radiographs of the pneumoconioses. Radiol Clin North Am 1992; 30:1135-1145.
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Wagner GR, Attfield MD, Kennedy RD, Parker JE. The NIOSH B reader certification program. An update report. J Occup Med 1992; 34:879-884.
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Berlin L. Are radiologists contracted by third parties to interpret radiographs liable for not communicating results directly to patients? AJR 2002; 178:27-33.
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Interpreting radiographs for nonphysicians (example "B" readings). States differ as to whether patient-physician relationship established. Consult legal counsel. Ethical standards demand that procedures are in place to communicate results to patient or patient's physician.

Henry DA. International Labor Office Classification System in the age of imaging: relevant or redundant. J Thorac Imaging 2002; 17:179-188.
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Gitlin JN, Cook LL, Linton OW, Garrett-Mayer E. Comparison of "B" readers' interpretations of chest radiographs for asbestos related changes. Acad Radiol 2004; 11:843-856.
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Janover ML, Berlin L. "B" readers' radiographic interpretations in asbestos litigation: is something rotten in the courtroom? Acad Radiol 2004; 11:841.
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Unethical interpretations favorable to plaintiff's attorneys documented. Unfortunately, readers succumb to the lure of easy money. Not documented is the opposite. always reading the film as normal even when there is evidence of pneumonconiosis.