Endobronchial Therapies for Diagnosis, Staging, and Treatment of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and within the United States. Although evidence-based screening has been shown to reduce cancer-related mortality, the late-stage presentation remains common. Bronchoscopy has been proven to be an essential tool in the diagnosis and management of lung cancer. Basic and advanced diagnostic bronchoscopic techniques offer a minimally invasive modality for diagnosing and staging patients with lung cancer. In patients with malignant endotracheobronchial disease, therapeutic bronchoscopy (flexible or rigid) is a safe procedure that palliates symptoms such as dyspnea and hemoptysis. In this article, we review the various endobronchial tools and strategies essential for the management of lung cancer.