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UT Southwestern Medical Center effectively diagnoses and treats the multitude of conditions that comprise interstitial lung disease. Most cases of interstitial lung disease develop gradually, but can come on suddenly. The disease causes progressive scarring of the lungs that affects a person’s ability to breathe, but effective drug treatments can slow its progression.

Tests and Exams

To help accurately diagnose the disease, our lung specialists use examinations and procedures that include computerized tomography (CT) scans, pulmonary function tests, bronchoscopy biopsies and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to obtain lung biopsies.

Treatments

 Depending on the type of interstitial lung disease diagnosed, a pulmonologist may prescribe corticosteroid drugs, antifibrotic drugs, oxygen therapy or pulmonary rehabilitation therapy to help manage the condition. Lung transplantation also may be an option in severe cases of interstitial lung disease.

New drugs are being developed to treat interstitial lung disease and may be available through UT Southwestern’s clinical trials program, which provides access to treatments unavailable at other health-care facilities. Depending on a patient’s specific condition, advanced therapies that show particular promise in treating various forms of interstitial lung disease may be available years before they are offered to the public.

Patient Education

Because the symptoms of interstitial lung disease are similar to other lung conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, our lung specialists take every care in performing an accurate diagnosis and prescribing the most effective treatment for their particular type of the disease.

UT Southwestern’s pulmonologists will assess the patient’s complete medical history and inquire about any occupation-related health hazards that may have contributed to lung disease. If they have been exposed to any toxins or other factors that are detrimental to the healthy lung functioning, the progression of their interstitial lung disease may be halted or even reversed.

For more information, please visit the Health Library.