Lung Oscillometry in Interstitial Lung Disease: Current Evidence and Clinical Application

Lung oscillometry test (LOT) is an emerging, noninvasive tool that assesses airway resistance and reactance during tidal breathing. Unlike spirometry, which depends on patient effort, LOT provides objective insights into small airway function and has shown potential utility in conditions where spirometry may fall short, such as interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). The study aims to summarize current evidence on the role of LOT in ILDs and discuss its clinical applications in diagnosis and disease monitoring. A narrative review of published literature was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, reproducibility, and clinical utility of LOT in ILDs. Comparative studies with spirometry and other functional measures were included to highlight strengths and limitations. LOT demonstrates high sensitivity in detecting early small airway dysfunction, with evidence suggesting it may complement or even outperform spirometry in certain ILD cohorts. Its ability to monitor disease progression and treatment response without requiring maximal effort enhances its applicability in clinical practice. However, standardization of protocols and larger multicenter validation studies are needed before widespread adoption. It is a promising addition to the respiratory physician’s toolkit for ILD evaluation. Future studies should focus on establishing normative values, defining ILD-specific thresholds, and integrating LOT into clinical algorithms.