Usual interstitial pneumonia coexisted with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, What's the diagnosis?

The differential diagnosis between idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (INSIP) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)/usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is tough in both clinicians and pathologists. In this study, we analyzed the lesions of right lung removed from a 58-year-old patient by gross and microscopy. The results showed that the pathological appearance of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and UIP coexisted in his upper lobe. Besides, because of severe fibrosis in middle and lower lobes, it was hard to distinguish the lesions of NSIP fibrotic pattern (NSIP-F) or UIP. Based on clinic-radiologic-pathological data, the diagnosis of INSIP-F was made for this patient finally. Our study suggests that UIP is not always an accurate diagnosis when the NSIP and UIP coexist, and NSIP can have regions of UIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]