Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Interstitial lung disease is a term used to refer to a particular type of
inflammation of the interstitium of the lungs. The interstitium is the tissue
that surrounds and separates the tiny air sacs (alveolae) in the lungs.
Interstitial lung disease involves an inflammation of this supportive tissue
between the air sacs rather than inflammation in the air sacs themselves.
Interstitial inflammation is typically a diffuse process that occurs all over
the lungs and is not confined to one location.
Sometimes the term "interstitial pneumonia" is used for certain forms of
interstitial lung disease. Technically, however, the term "pneumonia" refers to
inflammation of the lung tissue that is usually associated with infection.
Because interstitial lung disease has a number of causes (most of which are not
related to infection), the term "interstitial pneumonitis" is occasionally used
to refer to the inflammation that occurs in the absence of true infection.
Sometimes, the process of inflammation and scarring of the interstitial
tissues of the lungs develops in the absence of a known cause. When no cause can
be identified, this is referred to as idiopathic (unknown cause) interstitial
lung disease or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Depending upon the location,
severity, and pattern of lung involvement, the idiopathic interstitial lung
diseases have been further subdivided into categories. Examples of different
types of idiopathic interstitial lung disease include:
usual interstitial
pneumonitis (UIP),
bronchiolitis
obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP),
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to meet the body's needs. A poor blood supply resulting
Pneumonia is inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. Pneumonia is frequently but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial,
Pulmonary fibrosis is scarring throughout the lungs. Pulmonary fibrosis can be caused by many conditions including chronic inflammatory processes, infections,
Chronic cough is a cough that does not go away and is generally a symptom of another disorder such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, cigarette
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease of the connective tissue. It is characterized by the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the skin and organs of
Pulmonary hypertension is an abnormal elevation of the pressure in the pulmonary circulation caused by the constriction of the blood vessels that supply
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Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis is an inflammation of the lung caused by small airborne particles such as bacteria, mold, fungi, or inorganic matter. There
Asbestos exposure lung disease is divided into three main types, asbestosis (lung scarring caused by asbestos fibers), disease of the lining of the lung
Arachnoiditis is a painful condition that is caused by the inflammation of the arachnoid, a membrane that protects the nerves of the spinal cord. The condition
