title: [Chronic interstitial lung diseases: useful clinical and paraclinical aspects in practice].
abstract: Chronic interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are characterized by: 1) diffuse interstitial inflammation and/or fibrosis, and 2) duration of illness above 3 months. Chronic ILDs of known and unknown aetiology have to be differentiated. The diagnosis of chronic ILDs, which is suggested by clinical and/or pulmonary function test data, is definitely based on the identification of interstitial changes on chest-x ray or thoracic high resolution CT scans. Orientated laboratory evaluation and flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsies are also performed. These investigations often allow a secure diagnosis to be made. Sometimes however, a surgical lung biopsy is necessary for the diagnosis, notably when chronic idiopathic interstitial pneumonias are considered.
authors.affiliation: Division de Pneumologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, CH-1011 Lausanne, Suisse. jean-marc.fellrath@chuv.hospvd.ch
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fellrath
authors.forename: Cyrille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Francillon
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duc
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leuenberger
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed