DIPNECH is a lung condition that causes respiratory symptoms like a long-lasting cough, wheezing and shortness of breath. It may develop into cancer. CT scans and biopsy help providers diagnose it. Treatment may include medications to manage your symptoms and regular appointments to monitor your lungs.
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DIPNECH is a condition that causes special cells in the lungs to get bigger. When the cells enlarge, they can cause respiratory symptoms. It mostly affects women who’ve never smoked.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
DIPNECH (pronounced “DIP-nek”) stands for diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia. Those are a lot of big words that make up a big term. So, what do they mean?
Experts believe DIPNECH is rare. It also shares many of the same symptoms as other, more common lung conditions. Sometimes, it takes a lot of time and tests for healthcare providers to diagnose DIPNECH. Because there aren’t a lot of diagnosed cases, there’s no standard treatment that works for most people. Healthcare providers may initially label asthma as the cause of your symptoms. But you actually have DIPNECH with lung (pulmonary) nodules.
It can be.
In many DIPNECH cases, your symptoms slowly get worse. The condition may also develop into carcinoid cancer (lung neuroendocrine tumor). Even when it does turn into a tumor, it’s very slow-growing. Most people live a long time with it. Some people have minor respiratory symptoms for many years but can control them with medications.
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The most common symptoms are:
In rare cases, you may also cough up blood.
A DIPNECH cough is a long-term (chronic) cough that doesn’t go away on its own. It’s usually a dry cough.
Experts don’t know what causes DIPNECH. They’re currently researching potential causes and risk factors.
In some people, DIPNECH may progress to lung neuroendocrine tumors. Without monitoring or treatment, these tumors may eventually get big, spread and block your airways. Experts don’t know exactly how long this may take to happen. Some people may have DIPNECH symptoms for years without any signs of developing a tumor.
Your healthcare provider will review your health history, ask about your symptoms and conduct a physical exam. They may recommend:
They’ll also want to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, like asthma and COPD.
If your provider suspects you have DIPNECH, the only way to confirm it is with a lung biopsy.
Currently, there’s no standard DIPNECH treatment that works for most people.
Some respond well to medications that help treat coughing and wheezing symptoms. These include:
If these medications don’t improve your symptoms, your provider may prescribe somatostatin analogs (SSAs). These are injections that sometimes help with symptoms.
If DIPNECH develops into carcinoid tumors, you may need surgery to remove them.
You’ll likely have a multidisciplinary team care for you after receiving a DIPNECH diagnosis. Multidisciplinary care is when a group of specialists works together to treat you. Your team may include:
Schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider if you have respiratory symptoms that don’t go away over time. They can conduct tests, recommend medications or refer you to specialists.
During your appointment, you may want to ask questions like:
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Experts believe that DIPNECH is rare. They don’t know a lot about it yet. But they’re learning more. Healthcare providers sometimes mistake it for more common conditions with similar symptoms. So, it may take some time for you to get a DIPNECH diagnosis. After diagnosis, your care team will recommend regular appointments to monitor your lungs.
DIPNECH doesn’t usually lead to respiratory failure or death. If it progresses to carcinoid cancer, the 10-year survival rate is over 70%. That means more than 7 out of 10 people are still alive 10 years after they receive a diagnosis.
Experts believe that DIPNECH may be a precursor to carcinoid tumors. That means the neuroendocrine cells in your lungs aren’t cancer. But they have changes that increase the risk of developing into cancer over time. Some experts may call DIPNECH a pre-cancer. They’re part of the same spectrum of disease.
Many people who have diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) spend a long time trying to figure out why they can’t seem to shake their respiratory symptoms. Finding out the cause can ease some of your uncertainty. But it can still be frustrating and scary to know you have a condition that experts don’t know a lot about. Healthcare providers understand how you may feel. They’ll explain your diagnosis and treatment plan and answer any questions you may have.
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Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
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