There is no cure for ILD. Because lung damage may be permanent, treatment can’t always stop your condition from getting worse. Fortunately, we have many ILD clinical trials that focus on identifying new, innovative therapies. Our pulmonologists can determine if you qualify and help you learn more about enrolling in one of our clinical trials if you are interested.
To diagnose your ILD and identify the best treatment option, our experts may use one of these methods to evaluate your lung tissue:
- Fiberoptic bronchoscopy: For this procedure, our experts thread a thin, flexible tube called a bronchoscope through your mouth or nose to your lungs. They use a small light and camera at the end of the tube to examine and assess your tissue. They can also perform a transbronchial biopsy and remove a small part of your lung tissue.
- Bronchoalveolar lavage: During fiberoptic bronchoscopy, our pulmonologists spray—and quickly suction out—a small amount of sterile salt water into a portion of your lungs. The water they remove contains cells from your lungs that our experts can analyze to determine your condition.
- Cryobiopsy: During bronchoscopy, a device that freezes and removes tissue is inserted into your lungs. This allows for larger and higher quality pieces of lung tissue to be obtained and examined without the need for surgery.
- Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) biopsy: For this invasive procedure, we will refer you to a thoracic surgeon. During this surgery, they insert small tools and a camera through a small incision (cut) between your ribs. The camera provides a clear view while the surgeon removes a tissue sample from your lungs.
Based on the results of these evaluations, we offer a wide variety of leading-edge treatments that may help manage your symptoms:
