title: Clinical approach to interstitial lung disease.
abstract: The term interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses a large variety of entities. The clinical diagnosis is often difficult and is a multidisciplinary process. Achieving the correct diagnosis often involves 3 elements: a clinical impression, radiologic evaluation, and a pathologic opinion. All 3 components play a critical role. Frequently, the goal is differentiating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) from more treatable entities. This article provides an overview of the input provided by the 3 specialties cited earlier, as well as the interrelationship among these specialties in the diagnosis of ILD. Additional consideration is given to the decision-making process involved in determining when to obtain a biopsy specimen from a patient with ILD, and a review of current treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Division, University of Utah, 26 North 1900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. Scholand@genetics.utah.edu
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Scholand
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D001706:Biopsy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones