Interstitial Lung Disease
There are a variety of diseases grouped together because of their common radiographic appearance and are collectively known as interstitial lung disease. These include interstitial fibrosis, sarcoid, asbestosis, hemosiderosis, bronchoalevolar carcinoma, and lupus, to name a few. The treatment of these various processes is very different and therefore, it is imperative to obtain accurate diagnosis. The attempt to make a diagnosis by randomly biopsying the lung is usually unsuccessfully. Thoracoscopy has significantly improved our ability to diagnose interstitial lung disease. Performed through two or three 1-cm. incisions, multiple areas of the lung can be biopsied, correlating to the abnormal regions on the CT scan, and also targeted because of the abnormal appearance. We routinely perform multiple biopsies for interstitial lung disease, and obtain an immediate frozen section diagnosis from our authoritative lung pathologist, therefore increasing the diagnosis yield. Most patients can leave the hospital in 2 or 3 days, with very little post operative discomfort. This procedure has significantly contributed to the early diagnosis of patients with interstitial lung disease.