Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia

From Ask Dr Wiki

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.

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

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