Non-Specific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP): Pathophysiology, Imaging, Clinical Features, and Treatment – A Comprehensive Review for Clinicians and Researchers
Introduction Non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) is a distinctive form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) that has drawn increasing global attention due to its overlapping features with other diffuse parenchymal lung diseases. Unlike usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), NSIP is characterized by temporally uniform inflammation and fibrosis, presenting unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This comprehensive article explores the pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, imaging features, differential diagnosis, diagnostic approaches, treatment strategies, and prognosis of NSIP. The review is grounded in recent literature, including pivotal studies from The New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Radiology, and American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Pathophysiology NSIP is primarily characterized by chronic interstitial inflammation and varying degrees of fibrosis. Unlike UIP, which displays spatial an...