Diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease from the perspective of the clinician.

Diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease encompasses a large number of diverse entities having in common the diffuse infiltration of alveolar walls by inflammatory or malignant cells, connective tissue, or fluid that impairs transfer of oxygen to blood. Pertinent clues to the diagnosis may be obtained by careful analysis of history, physical examination, chest roentgenogram, pulmonary function, and other laboratory data. This analytic process is referred to as the "algorithmic synthesis." This synthesis can guide the clinician in the selection of tissue sampling techniques most likely to confirm the diagnosis.