TO EVALUATE THE ROLE OF RADIOLOGICALAND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASES

Background : Interstitial Lung Disease encompasses a very large and complex group of more than 200 parenchymal pulmonary disorders ofwhich the majority are rare. They are bunched together because they share clinical , radiographic, physiologic and pathologic features..AMultidisciplinary approach including clinical, radiological and histopathological examination is usually needed to make a correct diagnosisPatients and Methods : 60 patients with clinical and radiological features of ILD who underwent Transbronchial Lung Biopsy were included inthe study. Diagnosis was made on basis of Multidisciplinary approach including clinical, radiological and histopathogical examinationResults : Among the patients studied Lung Biopsy was able to confirm the diagnosis of ILD in 95% of the cases . Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosiswas the most common diagnosis in 23(38.3%) of the cases . HRCTalone was found to be inadequate in coming to a conclusive diagnosisConclusion : Despite the widespread use of HRCT, Lung Biopsy remains a superior diagnostic modality in diagnosis of ILD and should be used inpatients wherever possible