Interstitial lung disease (Diagnosis)

Diagnosis:

• Lung function test– Spirometer devices are used to assess the pulmonary functioning in form of how long the lung can hold, take in and move out the air. It is helpful in assessment of the ongoing treatment and in grading the seriousness the disease. It helps in characterization of physiological impairment and knowing diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide in cases with lung fibrosis.

• Radiograph of the chest– Chest X-ray shows us changes in lung parenchyma, associated complications of lung fibrosis, signs of pulmonary infections or heart failure.

• HRCT Scan of the chest is carried out to study more minute changes in the lung parenchyma like ground glass opacities, interstitial thickening, mosaic attenuation, air trapping, predominance of lung segments, honeycombing and bronchiectatic changes. It also gives a better picture of muscle, other organs, bones and fat.

• Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage can suggest specific diagnosis like chronic eosinophilic pneumonia when eosinophilia >25%.

• Lung Biopsy done when non-invasive tests are inconclusive. Example if findings show granulomas, one can consider sarcoidosis as the cause.