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Review
. 2007 Nov;62(11):1008-12.
doi: 10.1136/thx.2004.031039.

Challenges in pulmonary fibrosis x 5: the NSIP/UIP debate

Roland du Bois  1 , Talmadge E King Jr
Affiliations
Review

Challenges in pulmonary fibrosis x 5: the NSIP/UIP debate

Roland du Bois et al. Thorax. 2007 Nov.

Abstract

Among the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, the two entities-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) characterised by the presence of the usual interstitial pneumonia pattern of histopathology (IPF/UIP) and non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP; same nomenclature for the histopathological pattern and idiopathic disease) - have provoked considerable debate. IPF/UIP and NSIP closely mimic each other clinically but NSIP has a far better outcome. However, it remains unclear if NSIP is a truly separate and distinct entity. The histopathological pattern of NSIP can be found in a wide variety of clinical and radiological contexts. This review addresses these and other uncertainties regarding NSIP and UIP.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None.

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