title: Approach to the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease.
abstract: Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) encompass a wide range of diffuse pulmonary disorders, characterized by a variable degree of inflammatory and fibrotic changes of the alveolar wall and eventually the distal bronchiolar airspaces. ILDs may occur in isolation or in association with systemic diseases. The clinical evaluation of a patient with ILD includes a thorough medical history and detailed physical examination; obligatory diagnostic testing includes laboratory testing, chest radiography, and high-resolution computed tomography and comprehensive pulmonary function testing and blood gas analysis. To optimize the diagnostic yield, a dynamic interaction between the pulmonologist, radiologist, and pathologist is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany. juergen.behr@bergmannsheil.de
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Behr
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed