[Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is an overlooked disease]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive and fatal disease which primarily occurs in male patients over 60 years with a smoking history. Cryobiopsy is a new promising method for obtaining lung tissue for histologic analysis with fewer complications than surgical lung biopsy. Cryobiopsy allows more patients to be diagnosed. Antifibrotic treatment has shown to decrease progression and prolong survival time in both early and later stages of the disease. Early diagnosis and treatment are therefore of great importance to prevent disease progression and reduce mortality.