The role of histology in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: an update
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Refined Murine Model of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Published on: June 17, 2025
Alberto Cavazza1, Giulio Rossi, Cristiano Carbonelli
1Unità Operativa di Anatomia Patologica, Ospedale Santa Maria Nuova, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy. alberto.cavazza@asmn.re.it
Abstract:
The diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) currently requires an integrated clinical-radiological-pathological approach in which the histology plays a different role from in the past. The first reason for this change is that non-invasive diagnostic procedures, particularly pulmonary function tests and high resolution computed tomography, have become increasingly competitive with biopsy in providing prognostic information. The other reason is a better appreciation of the limitations of histology: sampling error and interobserver variation. In this review we analyze the reasons for this change of perspective, provide an update on the practical role of histology in the diagnosis of IPF and discuss some of its complications.
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