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Updated: May 17, 2026
03:38
Unilateral Lung Volume Analysis Using Micro-CT for Enhanced Assessment of Pulmonary Fibrosis in Preclinical Models
Published on: June 20, 2025
A clinical approach to diffuse parenchymal lung disease
1Interstitial Lung Disease Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NP, UK. t.maher@rbht.nhs.uk
Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America
|October 30, 2012
Summary
Diagnosing diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs) is challenging due to their diversity. Multidisciplinary team meetings improve diagnostic accuracy for these complex interstitial lung diseases.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs) encompass over 200 distinct conditions, making accurate diagnosis difficult.
- The development of targeted therapies underscores the increasing clinical importance of precise DPLD diagnosis.
- High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings are crucial for identifying DPLDs, often reducing the need for invasive lung biopsies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the diagnostic challenges in diffuse parenchymal lung diseases.
- To emphasize the growing need for accurate DPLD diagnosis due to new treatments.
- To advocate for a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosing DPLDs.
Main Methods:
- Review of diagnostic modalities for DPLDs.
- Emphasis on the role of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in DPLD assessment.
- Highlighting the importance of integrating clinical, radiological, and pathological data.
Main Results:
- DPLD diagnosis is complex due to the wide spectrum of diseases.
- HRCT imaging significantly aids in characterizing DPLDs and can obviate biopsy in many cases.
- Histological examination remains essential when HRCT findings are inconclusive.
Conclusions:
- Accurate diagnosis of DPLDs is critical for effective treatment selection.
- A multidisciplinary team approach, involving physicians, thoracic radiologists, and pathologists, is optimal for DPLD diagnosis.
- Interstitial lung disease multidisciplinary team meetings facilitate comprehensive diagnostic assessment.
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