Integrating morphology and treatable traits into the management of ILD

Abstract

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are typically classified on the basis of their underlying causes; however, most ILDs can present with a multitude of morphological patterns on chest imaging or lung biopsy, and each pattern can similarly result from one of several underlying causes. Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is one of these common patterns of pulmonary fibrosis that is typically associated with a poor prognosis. Although usually corresponding to a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), both the overall pattern of UIP and its distinguishing features (eg, honeycombing) are also recognised in other ILD diagnoses, such as fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis and connective tissue disease-associated ILD.