Figure 10.

Diagnostic algorithm for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), developed using consensus by discussion. *Patients with a radiological pattern of probable usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) can receive a diagnosis of IPF after multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) without confirmation by lung biopsy in the appropriate clinical setting (e.g., 60 yr old, male, smoker). BAL may be appropriate in some patients with a probable UIP pattern. ^†BAL may be performed before MDD in some patients evaluated in experienced centers. ^‡Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) may be preferred to surgical lung biopsy (SLB) in centers with appropriate expertise and/or in some patient populations, as described in the text. A subsequent SLB may be justified in some patients with nondiagnostic findings on TBLC. Adapted from Reference 2. HRCT = high-resolution computed tomography.