Pulmonary Fibrosis - Diagnosis & Treatment (Including Surgery)
How is pulmonary fibrosis diagnosed?
How serious is pulmonary fibrosis?
How is pulmonary fibrosis treated?
How is pulmonary fibrosis diagnosed?
There is no single test that can diagnose pulmonary fibrosis. A pulmonologist usually relies on the results from several tests. A pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis can be confirmed by:
- History and physical examination
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan of the lungs
- Removal of lung tissue (biopsy) for examination under a microscope
- Pulmonary function tests
How serious is pulmonary fibrosis?
Pulmonary fibrosis is a complex disease and the survival rate after diagnosis varies greatly. In general, the disease has a poor prognosis. More than 40,000 people die from this disease annually. Survival rates are highest when the disease is diagnosed at a young age, in an early stage and in those who have had a good response to medications.
There is new research, however, that offers hope both in understanding the causes of the disease and in developing effective treatments.
How is pulmonary fibrosis treated?
There is no cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Once scar tissue has formed in the lung, it cannot be removed surgically or repaired with medication. Treatment is directed at slowing the progression of the disease and minimizing symptoms. Some therapies a doctor may recommend include:
- Supplemental oxygen
- Medications that affect the immune system
- Pulmonary rehabilitation and exercise
- Lung transplantation.
The toxicity and side effects of treatment and pulmonary fibrosis surgery can be serious. Therefore, patients with pulmonary fibrosis should be managed by a lung specialist experienced in this condition. The lung specialist will determine the need for treatment, the duration of treatment and will monitor the response to therapy along with any side effects.
To schedule an appointment with a Temple Lung Center physician click here or call 1-800-TEMPLE-MED (1-800-836-7536).
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