Pulmonary function test interpretation: A clinical approach

Tan Geak Poh
Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are essential tools in the diagnostic and management pathways of respiratory disease. However, accurate interpretation requires more than algorithmic pattern recognition - it requires a structured, bidirectional approach that integrates physiological data with clinical and radiological findings. This is particularly critical in complex clinical scenarios, where subtle physiologic clues hold diagnostic weight. This session will review conventional PFT interpretation framework, discuss limitation and highlight diagnostic nuances often overlooked in routine practice. Participants will be guided through real-world cases that illustrate common and complex patterns. The discussion will also address technical aspects that influence PFT interpretation. In parallel, the session will critically examine the limitations of existing international guidelines, including the use of Z-scores, the lower limit of normal, and the selection of reference equations, with particular attention to Southeast Asia populations. Emerging technologies such as application of impulse oscillometry in clinical practice will also be discussed. The session is tailored for pulmonologists, physiologists, and clinicians involved in pulmonary diagnostics who seek to sharpen their interpretive skills and bridge physiological data with clinical decision-making.