27 ILD
27.1 What this covers
- Anatomic
- Etiology
- Classification:
27.2 Learning objectives
- Anatomic
- Etiology
- Classification:
- Workup:
- Smoking-Related ILD
- ILA - Interstitial Lung Abnormality
27.3 Bottom line / summary
- aka diffuse parenchymal lung diseases
- NEJM 2020 review: https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMra2005230
- An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline: The Clinical Utility of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cellular Analysis in Interstitial Lung Disease
- Not all causes fibrosis
- Allergic: HP, Eos pna Non-allergic: sarcoidosis, PLCH, ARDS, Alveolar proteinosis, RB-ILD, LAM Functional: aspiration/GERD associated pneumonitis
27.4 Approach
- alveolar - DIP, All proteinosis, COP
- bronchiolocentric - HP, PLHC, sarcoid?
- Perivascular and lymphatic - LAM, LIP
- Panlobular - IPF
- ILD related to primary pulm disorder (e.g. sarcoidosis, PAP, LAM, eosinphilic pneumonia)
27.5 Red flags / when to escalate
- TODO: List red flags that require urgent escalation.
27.6 Common pitfalls
- TODO: Capture common errors or missed steps.
27.7 References
- https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMra2005230
- https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/rccm.201202-0320ST
- https://photos.collectednotes.com/photos/5187/33e64ec5-7036-4387-be14-ea2eb46ae25f
- https://photos.collectednotes.com/photos/5187/2e38b851-47e2-48a0-9036-da08fbc7397d
27.8 Source notes
27.8.1 ILD
28 ILD
aka diffuse parenchymal lung diseases
NEJM 2020 review: https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMra2005230
28.1 Anatomic
Some are more:
- alveolar - DIP, All proteinosis, COP
- bronchiolocentric - HP, PLHC, sarcoid*?
- Perivascular and lymphatic - LAM, LIP
- Panlobular - IPF
Not all causes fibrosis
28.2 Etiology
Allergic: HP, Eos pna Non-allergic: sarcoidosis, PLCH, ARDS, Alveolar proteinosis, RB-ILD, LAM Functional: aspiration/GERD associated pneumonitis
28.3 Classification:
ILA = interstitial lung abnormality.. basically, an “ILD-nodule”. not clear currently if this is “pre-ILD”. About 2-10% incidence,
- ILD related to primary pulm disorder (e.g. sarcoidosis, PAP, LAM, eosinphilic pneumonia)
- ILD related to exposure (pneumoconiosis, HP - use ATSDR))
- ILD related to drugs/illicits/radiation (pneumotox)
- ILD associated with CTD
- and Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) such as IPF
Exposure terminology:
- pneumoconiosis occurs following chronic exposure to respirable dust
- HP occurs after immune-mediated sensitization to organic/protein antigens. (Old name: “extrinsic allergic alveoli’s”)
- some IIPs are associated with exposures (e.g. IPF)
28.3.1 For CT interpretation:
- Describe in terms of the lobule: size of the lobule =where bronchial vessel ends = ~a few cm
Pattern can be: alveolar, bronchiolocentric (e.g. air trapping in HP, PLH, sarcoid), perivascular (e.g. LAM) or panlobular.
vs centrilobular = not near vessels
- insp / exp phase (to eval air trapping)
- can use prone positioning to exclude atelectasis
28.3.2 UIP
called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis if there is no identifiable cause.
CT: diffuse peripheral reticular patterns with honeycombing, traction bronchiectasis, basilar
- gradual onset of dyspnea
- older patients, generally
- nondiagnostic BAL
28.3.3 NSIP
-ground glass opacities or consolidations that mainly involves lower lungs
-subactute onset dyspnea.

28.4 Workup:
- HRCT
- If HRCT is not diagnostic, BAL and cellular analysis (e.g. eos over 25%, lymphs over 50, ‘alveolitis’ = neutrophilic, blood, etc.)
- if that is not diagnostic: Lung Biopsy (surgical is reference standard, but can consider transbronch / cryo)
For acute course: think COP, AIP (aka Hamman Rich, ARDS), Eos PNa, HP, Drugs (amiodarone, nitrofurantoin)
For CTD related, ANA - IFA is sensitive but not specific, hence reflex.
28.6 ILA - Interstitial Lung Abnormality
Not associated with physiologic abnormality (e.g. PFTs, symptoms), but finding On CT (small area usually)
2-10% prevalence, increased association with mortality - maybe due to being a harbinger for onset of ILD (Not all do)
