Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) fulfils the five criteria set forth by the National Cancer Institute [45] and therefore qualifies as a precancerous condition
| Premalignant criteria | IPF |
| Associated with an increased risk of cancer | IPF has an increased risk of lung cancer |
| When a precancer progresses to cancer, the resulting cancer arises from cells within the precancer | Lung cancer arises from cells within the precancer in IPF |
| Differs from the normal tissue from which it arises | IPF differs from normal tissue from which it arises |
| Differs from the cancer into which it develops | IPF differs from the cancer into which it develops |
| There is a method by which the precancer can be diagnosed | IPF can be diagnosed by a combination of clinical, radiological and pathological features |