Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia

In medicine, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia is a term used for a type of diffuse lung disease; diffuse lung disease is also known as interstitial lung disease.

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Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia can be subclassified based on histologic appearance into the following patterns:^[1]

Desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP)
Diffuse alveolar damage
Lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (LIP)
Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP)
Respiratory bronchiolitis
Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)
Organizing pneumonia

Pneumonia misnomer?

The definition of "pneumonia" is often described as a '... lung inflammation caused by a virus, bacteria or irritant.'^[2]

Etymologically, the usage of "pneumonia" in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia is correct; the word "pneumonia" is derived from "pneumon" (lung) and the suffix "-ia" (condition).^[3]

References

^ Leslie KO, Wick MR. Practical Pulmonary Pathology: A Diagnostic Approach. Elsevier Inc. 2005. ISBN 978-0-443-06631-3.
^ Pneumonia. dictionary.com. URL: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pneumonia. Accessed on: November 14, 2007.
^ Pneumonia. Stedman's Medical Dictionary. URL: http://www.emedicine.com/asp/dictionary.asp?keyword=pneumonia. Accessed on: November 12, 2007.

Category: Pulmonology