Diagnosing Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

In order to diagnose idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), your healthcare provider will begin by asking several questions, followed by a physical exam. Diagnosing the condition also includes performing certain tests, such as a chest x-ray and exercise testing. The test that is most useful for making an IPF diagnosis is the video-assisted thoracoscopy, in which a camera is inserted into the lungs and biopsies are taken.

IPF Information

How Is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Diagnosed?

In order to make a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a healthcare provider will begin by asking a number of questions. This will include questions about:

Your current symptoms
Your work history
Any medications you are taking
Any medical conditions you may have
Your family's history of medical conditions
Whether you smoke.

He or she will also perform a physical exam to look for signs of pulmonary fibrosis (although, in most cases, the physical exam is initially normal). The healthcare provider may then recommend tests to help make a diagnosis.

Tests to Diagnose Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

There is no single test for diagnosing IPF. Therefore, your healthcare provider will probably recommend several different tests. Some of these tests may include:

A chest x-ray
High-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT)
Pulmonary function tests
A tuberculosis skin test (TB skin test)
Exercise testing
A bronchoscopy
A lung biopsy.

Chest X-Ray

A chest x-ray takes a picture of your heart and lungs. It can show shadows that suggest scar tissue. However, not everyone with IPF has an abnormal chest x-ray. In fact, it is thought that about 16 percent of people with IPF have normal chest x-rays at the time they're diagnosed.

(Diagnosing Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Continued: Page 2)