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CancerQuest > Introduction to Patient Information > Introduction to Cancer Detection and Diagnosis > Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy is the use of a flexible or rigid tube to examine the airways.  Bronchoscopy is used to detect and diagnose lung cancer.  It is also used to remove airway blockages (i.e. food), to treat bleeding, to deliver radiation to cancerous areas (brachytherapy) and to take small tissue samples (biopsies).  Flexible bronchscopes are used when possible because they offer a better view for the physician and are less uncomfortable for the patient.   The patient does not need to be under general anesthesia. Rigid bronchoscopy requires that the patient be under general anesthesia.⁽¹⁾ Newer methods utilize fluorescent imaging techniques to better visualize the tissues. Using blue light instead of white light allows the detection of early cancers.⁽²⁾

References for this page:

1. El-Bayoumi E, Silvestri GA. Bronchoscopy for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2008 Jun;29(3):261-70. [PUBMED]
2. Divisi D, Di Tommaso S, De Vico A, Crisci R. Early diagnosis of lung cancer using a SAFE-3000 autofluorescence bronchoscopy. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2010 Sep 19. [Epub ahead of print] [PUBMED]