New techniques for the assessment of interstitial lung disease

The authors succinctly describe the pathogenic mechanisms of this disease and the failures of the traditional diagnostic techniques in providing data about the extent of alveolitis and thus about disease activity and prognosis. The authors then show how the new methods of bronchoalveolar lavage and gallium-67 scanning may provide such information. Next in the discussion is how these techniques are applied to the understanding and management of sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. And finally, the authors propose an integrated approach that uses both the new and traditional methods in the diagnosis and management of interstitial lung disease.