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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2001; 22(4): 347-356
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-17380
Copyright © 2001 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

The Clinical Significance of Histopathologic Subgroups in Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia: Is Surgical Lung Biopsy Essential?

Harold R. Collard1 , Talmadge E. King Jr2
  • 1Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado
  • 2Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, California
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Publication History

Publication Date:
26 September 2001 (online)

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ABSTRACT

For many years, the clinical entity of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) has been a source of confusion for physicians. There has been much debate over the utility of subclassifying this condition histopathologically. It now appears that such classification is useful, and the most important distinction is the presence or absence of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). Unlike the other histopathologic subgroups, UIP has a grave prognosis and responds poorly to traditional therapies. To emphasize this clinical difference, the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), once used synonymously with IIP, is now reserved for only those patients with the histopathologic pattern of UIP. Although the gold standard for the diagnosis of IPF/UIP remains surgical lung biopsy, recent studies suggest that careful clinical and radiographic evaluation can identify IPF/UIP with a specificity of 90% or more. In the absence of a clear clinical diagnosis, we recommend pursuing surgical lung biopsy. Knowledge of the underlying histopathology will allow for more accurate prognosis, help guide therapy, and make possible the clinical investigation of novel therapeutic agents for patients with IIP.

KEYWORD

Interstitial pneumonia - lung biopsy - diagnosis

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