[Diagnostic process of alveolitis--state of the art]

Diagnosing of alveolitis is a puzzle of many pieces, based on clinical experience and keeping in mind the criteria of extrinsic allergic alveolitis. They are antigen-exposure, typical delayed postexpositional symptoms (cough, chills, fever, dyspnea, tiredness), and serological tests of precipitating antibodies. Helpful findings are X-ray of the chest, high resolution computer tomography, auscultation findings, lowered diffusing capacity, bronchoalveolar lavage with lymphocytes > 50% and low T4/T8-ratio, histology of periphere lung specimens, and occasional inhaled provocation. Differential diagnosis are toxic lung disorders, drug adverse effects, sarcoidosis, silicosis, autoimmune alveolitis, idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis. The most frequent failure in diagnosis are common viral cold, bronchopneumonia, sarcoidosis, chronic bronchitis, and miliar tuberculosis.