HOW IS PULMONARY FIBROSIS DIAGNOSED?

Because patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis experience symptoms and also have an underlying pattern of scarring similar to those of other lung disorders, Pulmonary Fibrosis can be difficult to diagnose. In fact, it was not until 2000 that Pulmonary Fibrosis was classified as a distinct clinical disorder by a panel of experts sponsored by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS). Until recently, the medical community has had no agreed-upon standards for the diagnosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis. Consequently, other related lung diseases were often incorrectly classified as Pulmonary Fibrosis. With new diagnostic standards now in place, the recognition and management of Pulmonary Fibrosis should be substantially improved.

To diagnose Pulmonary Fibrosis, your doctor will take a complete medical history and perform a thorough physical examination. During this exam, the doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your chest to try to determine if your lungs produce any abnormal sounds when you breathe. He or she may then order one or more of the following diagnostic tests or procedures:

Pulmonary Fibrosis can be difficult to diagnose.  An estimated 50% of cases are initially misdiagnosed as another form of respiratory disease.