Survival implications of transbronchial cryobiopsy and other diagnostic modalities in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a relentlessly progressive fibrotic lung disease with a median survival of only 2 to 3 years (1). Approximately half of IPF diagnoses are established by characteristic features on high resolution computerized tomographic scan of the chest (HRCT).