Diffuse interstitial lung diseases in association with connective tissue diseases

This article gives a comprehensive overview of diffuse interstitial lung diseases especially those associated with connective tissue diseases. Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) represent a heterogenous group of diseases of very different and partially unknown etiologies. Therefore, an exact classification of the ILD is difficult. ILDs are rarely seen in clinical practice and often lead to diagnostic problems. Diagnostic procedures require the patient's history, physical examination, serological-immunological and routine laboratory tests, pulmonary function testing, chest Xray and high-resolution CT scan, bronchioloalveolar lavage (BAL) and bioptic procedures. The diagnostic approach to ILD requires an intensive multidisciplinary cooperation to offer early and effective therapeutic regimens.