Observations on the results of multiple readings of chest films in coal miners' pneumoconiosis.

The authors studied the influence of multiple readings on the problem of detecting and evaluating coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). There was an unexpected disagreement between three groups of readers, based on (a) poor film quality, (b) lack of experience with the classification systems employed, and (c) lack of familiarity with the roentgen manifestations of CWP. It is hoped that future surveys may be improved by films of higher quality and by a heightened awareness of the roentgen signs and symptoms of CWP among physicians.