Refer patients with suspected interstitial lung disease (ILD) to a respiratory specialist for assessment and management NICE CG163.
Referral is indicated if the clinical features, lung function, and radiological findings are suggestive of ILD and a confident diagnosis cannot be made by the multidisciplinary team, or if further diagnostic procedures such as bronchoalveolar lavage, transbronchial biopsy, or surgical lung biopsy are considered NICE CG163.
Patients should be discussed with a multidisciplinary team with expertise in interstitial lung disease, including a consultant respiratory physician, radiologist, and possibly a histopathologist and thoracic surgeon, depending on the diagnostic pathway NICE CG163.
Additionally, if the diagnosis remains uncertain after initial assessment, or if there is a need for further invasive diagnostics, referral for specialist review is recommended NICE CG163.