Radiology Study Casts Doubt on X-ray Readings in Asbestos Litigation

A review of nearly 500 positive chest X-rays that formed the basis for claims filed by workers alleging asbestos-related injuries has found that in less than five percent of the cases was there evidence of abnormalities that exceeded profusion category 1/0 on the ILO scale, according to a study published recently in the Journal Academic Radiology.

The study, sanctioned by asbestos defense attorneys, claims to cast doubt on the accuracy of initial X-ray readings by certified b-readers hired to interpret films on behalf of asbestos claimants and their counsel.

According to the paper, six independent b-readers were hired to reinterpret …