UIP (Usual Interstitial Pneumonia) is diagnosed through a combination of clinical evaluation and diagnostic testing. According to the provided reference, the diagnosis relies primarily on two key methods:
- Surgical Lung Biopsy: A surgical lung biopsy involves taking a small tissue sample from the lung for microscopic examination. This allows pathologists to identify the characteristic histological pattern of UIP.
- High-Resolution Thin-Section Computed Tomographic (CT) Scans: This specialized CT scan can identify specific radiographic features in the lungs that are characteristic of UIP. However, this is only effective if the radiographic features are deemed "classical."
In summary, a definite diagnosis of UIP is made either through surgical lung biopsy demonstrating the characteristic histological pattern, or based on a CT scan if it shows classical radiographic features of UIP.
