How to Diagnose Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
It can be hard for healthcare providers to diagnose idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis immediately as the symptoms tend to develop gradually over time. Scarring in this condition appears quite similar to that in other lung problems. They may do certain tests to confirm idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and rule out other potential causes. These include HRCT scans, chest X-rays, lung biopsy, blood gas tests, pulse oximetry, or lung function tests. It is estimated that around 50000 new cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are diagnosed in the United States each year. [6]
