VALUE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM MEETING FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASES. EXPERIENCE OF KAUNO KLINIKOS

Abstract

Introduction. International guidelines recommend interstitial lung diseases (ILD) should be diagnosed in specialized centres, in an ILD multidisciplinary team (ILDMDT). Aim. To determine the value of ILDMDT for diagnosis and treatment choice of IPL at the Department of Pulmonology of Kauno klinikos. Methods. A retrospective study of patients, presented
at Kauno klinikos ILDMDT from January 10th, 2019 to January 9th, 2020, was performed. Patients with a first-time diagnosis of ILD were included in this study. Results. 67.4% out of 98 patients presented in this study had ILD diagnosed after the first ILDMDT discussion. The most prevalent ILD was sarcoidosis at 48.9%. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, idiopathic non-specific interstitial pneumonia and hypersensitivity pneumonitis were diagnosed in 8.2% of cases each. 63.3% of ILDs were diagnosed by clinical and radiological findings alone. 45.9% were presented for ILDMDT with the diagnosis of unspecified ILD. ILDMDT changed the diagnosis in 53.1% of cases. All patients diagnosed with ILD were offered further treatment. Conclusions. This study shows that ILDMDT is a valuable tool for diagnosis and choice of treatment for ILDs.