A chest x-ray may give some clues. Pulmonary function tests, which reveal the efficiency of a patient s breathing mechanism, may give other indications. Another diagnostic technique involves injection with gallium 67, a substance which is absorbed by inflamed areas that can be seen later on sensitized film. At some point, a lung biopsy may be performed so that cells in and around the alveoli can be examined. If one of the known causes of pulmonary fibrosis exists, then treatment of that underlying disease or removal of the patient from the environment causing the disease can be effective.
Many times treatment is limited only to treating the inflammatory response that occurs in the lungs.
This is done in the hope that stopping the inflammation will prevent the laying down of scar tissue or fibrosis in the lungs and thus stop the progression of the disease. Corticosteroids are the drugs which are usually administered in an attempt to stop the inflammation. The advantage of this treatment has not been proven in every case, although it does appear that if the drugs are given early on in the course of the disease, there is a better chance of improvement. Corticosteroid medications can have various side effects and so patients taking these medications must be frequently reassessed by their physicians in order to judge the safety and benefit of this therapy. Other drugs have been tried but convincing evidence of their efficacy is lacking.