Radiological Changes in Chest Computed Tomography Findings of School Cooks: A Comparative Study With Age-matched Controls

Abstract

Background: This study investigates subclinical radiologic changes in the respiratory system in school cooks with long-term exposure to cooking oil fumes.

Methods: Using low-dose chest computed tomography screening data, we compared 88 school cooks to an age- and sex-matched control group of 88 individuals to assess the presence of lung nodules, bronchial wall thickening, and lymph node size variations.

Results: The results demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of solid nodules in cooks (75.0% vs. 33.0%, p < 0.001). Additionally, the thickness of the right bronchial wall (1.41 ± 0.19 mm vs. 1.33 ± 0.18 mm, p = 0.004) and the left bronchial wall (1.31 ± 0.21 mm vs. 1.25 ± 0.20 mm, p = 0.044) were significantly greater in the exposed group. Cooks also had larger lymph nodes at various sites: right paratracheal or hilar (4.12 ± 1.66 mm vs. 3.13 ± 1.36 mm, p < 0.001), left paratracheal or hilar (2.63 ± 1.50 mm vs. 1.98 ± 1.27 mm, p = 0.002), subcarinal (3.44 ± 1.58 mm vs. 2.47 ± 1.16 mm, p < 0.001), right inferior interlobar (3.90 ± 1.16 mm vs. 2.85 ± 0.90 mm, p < 0.001), and left inferior interlobar (3.83 ± 1.22 mm vs. 3.02 ± 1.11 mm, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that individuals with long-term employment as school cooks exhibited subclinical yet detectable radiologic findings in the lungs.