EL DILEMA DE LAS ALVEOLITIS FIBROSANTES

Fibrosing alveolitis is a pathological anatomical process that includes a series of chronic processes that selectively damages the lungs, particularly the interstitial space. It has an incidence of 15% in patients seen by chest physicians. The etiology of this condition is unknown in about 60% of the cases. The symptoms are not specific. Radiographically, this process goes through four stages. Lung scanning with Gallium 67 makes the differentiation of those patients in which alveolitis is predominant over pulmonary fibrosis. Cytology of the bronchial aspect can help in establishing the diagnosis of some of the causes of fibrosing alveolitis. Lung biopsy has potential risks in this condition. The goal of pharmacological treatment is to stop the process before irreversible damage in the lung takes place. There are some clues for the specific diagnosis of some of the processes that can lead to fibrosing alveolitis.