Interstitial lung disease program

Patients with interstitial lung disease require care from a multidisciplinary team of experienced physicians, an active research program, and a commitment to patient education. The Temple Lung Center’s Interstitial Lung Disease Program is a national leader in all three areas, offering a physician leadership team with decades of experience at Temple, a research program that publishes often and is supported by the NIH and private industry, and a wide range of educational programs for patients, caregivers and physicians.

A tripartite mission of excellence

The Temple Lung Center’s tripartite mission of patient care, research and education is evident in its Interstitial Lung Disease Program.

 

 

Patient care

Excellent patient care is at the heart of Temple’s Interstitial Lung Disease Program. The ILD team uses a multidisciplinary approach to diagnose and treat the complex range of ILD-related conditions. This team includes experienced pulmonologists, interventional pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons, chest radiologists, rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, cardiologists and pulmonary pathologists. Conditions treated include:

Environmental and occupational diseases

• Asbestosis
• Silicosis
• Pneumoconiosis

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonias

• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
• Nonspecific and hypersensitivity pneumonias
• Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP)
• Acute interstitial pneumonia Multisystem diseases
• Connective tissue diseases
• Sarcoidosis
• Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)
• Drug-induced reactions

Rare lung diseases

• Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis
• Pulmonary eosinophilia
• Pulmonary histiocytosis

 

 

 

Education

The Temple Lung Center offers an extensive education program for patients and caregivers who are affected by interstitial lung disease. This includes the Philadelphia region’s largest support group for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (offered at two convenient locations), a dedicated sarcoidosis support group, and an educational partnership with the Wescoe Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis. The Lung Center also holds the region’s largest annual ILD conference for patients and family members as well as several physician education programs about ILD throughout the year. Temple’s wide-ranging education program helps patients better understand and manage their disease, make more informed decisions about their care, and learn how to live healthier lives.

 

 

Dedicated clinical programs

The Temple Lung Center’s strength lies in its many specialized centers and programs, which concentrate expertise and knowledge in specific diseases and ensure that patients receive the highest level of care for their condition. Notable Temple programs related to interstitial lung disease include:

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) program

Temple has special expertise in caring for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This includes patients who are seeking a proper diagnosis or are in the early stages of the disease as well as those with advanced-stage disease or those who may require a lung transplant. Temple’s physicians have experience prescribing and managing drug therapy, including nintedanib and pirfenidone, which can be difficult to manage.

Occupational lung disease program

Occupational lung disease is often misdiagnosed as a different lung disease, resulting in ineffective treatment, health risks and patient stress. The specialists in Temple’s Occupational Lung Disease Program have extensive experience helping patients with many types of workplacerelated lung disease. They provide accurate, mostly non-invasive diagnosis of occupational lung disease, as well as treatment and screening for patients to help them stay healthy.

Advanced sarcoidosis program

Temple’s Advanced Sarcoidosis Program specialists have experience with the most complex cases involving multiple organ systems. Patients can be co-managed to ensure their disease is being monitored carefully with a focus on addressing lung fibrosis and pulmonary side effects. Having a lung center with specialists in sarcoidosis, interventional pulmonology, pulmonary hypertension andlung transplantation improves management of these patients and facilitates coordination of care. The Temple Lung center is also a recognized Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence by the World Association for Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders (WASOG).

Non-specific pneumonitis and hypersensitivity pneumonias program

These conditions are characterized by varying degrees of inflammation and fibrosis of the lungs’ alveoli. Temple’s pulmonary specialists have the experience to properly diagnose and treat both conditions.

Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) program

This rare condition occurs when swirls of inflammation block the bronchioles and alveolar sacs. With the correct diagnosis and treatment, most patients will recover within weeks or months. COP specialists at the Temple Lung Center provide comprehensive, specialized care for patients. Their experience and collaboration with other Temple specialists provide patients with a highly informed diagnosis and a cohesive treatment plan.

Lung transplantation program

When interstitial lung disease reaches its most advanced stages, a lung transplant may be necessary. Temple’s Lung Transplantation Program was the nation’s #1 program by volume in 2017 and 2018, but the program’s strength goes far beyond a number. Temple’s experienced lung transplant team often accepts the most complex cases, including patients who have been turned down for transplant at other hospitals due to their advanced age, high BMI or other medical issues. Temple also has special expertise in using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to lung transplant. This combination of high patient volume, physician expertise and commitment to pushing the boundaries of transplant science benefits patients who require this lifesaving procedure.

 

 

Referring a patient

It is important for patients with interstitial lung disease to be referred to an advanced care center early in their diagnosis, to ensure they have full access to a range of treatment options. The Temple Lung Center is one of the leading national and international centers for the evaluation and treatment of patients with complex interstitial lung disease.