LATE BREAKING TOPICS IN RESPIRATORY MEDICINE 2012 

Minerva Pneumologica 2012 June;51(2):59-72

Copyright © 2012 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Diagnostic and therapeutic flexible bronchoscopy in the management of lung cancer

McNulty W. ¹, O’Dowd E. ², Kemp S. ¹

¹ Sherwood Forest Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton-in-Ashfield, UK; ² Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham, UK

Lung cancer is common, often presents late, and is only curable in a small minority of cases. Two challenges face the chest physician in this regard. Firstly, how to make an accurate, rapid diagnosis whilst exposing the patient, who often has multiple co-morbidities, to as little risk as possible, and secondly providing (often symptomatic) treatment in a timely and safe fashion. Recent advances in endoscopic technology have presented physicians with an armoury of different techniques to sample lesions that were previously beyond the range of the bronchoscope, both within and outside of the airways. Similarly, there has been an expansion in the range and uptake of bronchoscopically delivered therapies for the treatment and palliation of lung cancer, and this paper discusses the available advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques currently available for use via the flexible bronchoscope.