title: Evaluation of a diagnostic approach to pediatric interstitial lung disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the value of a systematic approach to the diagnosis of pediatric interstitial lung disease (ILD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive, observational, prospective study, we evaluated 51 children presenting with ILD of unknown etiology during a 3-year period. Specific clinical information regarding history, physical examination, diagnostic evaluation, and final diagnosis was recorded on each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A specific diagnosis was established by history and physical examination alone in 1 patient, noninvasive tests alone in 8 others, and invasive tests, including lung biopsy, in another 26. Of the remaining patients, 8 had a suggestive diagnosis, and 8 had no specific diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A systematic approach to the diagnosis of pediatric ILD is useful, and not all patients need lung biopsy for diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonary Section, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kozinetz
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Deterding
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brugman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination; D011446:Prospective Studies