Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy is a procedure that lets doctors look at your lungs and air passages. It’s usually performed by a doctor who specializes in lung disorders (a pulmonologist). During bronchoscopy, a thin tube (bronchoscope) is passed through your nose or mouth, down your throat and into your lungs.

Bronchoscopy is most commonly performed using a flexible bronchoscope. However, in certain situations, such as if there’s a lot of bleeding in your lungs or a large object is stuck in your airway, a rigid bronchoscope may be needed.

Common reasons for needing bronchoscopy are a persistent cough, infection or something unusual seen on a chest X-ray or other test.

Bronchoscopy can also be used to obtain samples of mucus or tissue, to remove foreign bodies or other blockages from the airways or lungs, or to provide treatment for lung problems.

Symptoms

• Diagnosis of a lung problem
• Identification of a lung infection
• Biopsy of tissue from the lung
• Removal of mucus, a foreign body, or other obstruction in the airways or lungs, such as a tumor
• Placement of a small tube to hold open an airway (stent)
• Treatment of a lung problem (interventional bronchoscopy), such as bleeding, an abnormal narrowing of the airway (stricture) or a collapsed lung (pneumothorax)

Causes

• Smoking – Smoke from cigarettes, cigars, and pipes is the number one cause of lung disease.
• Radon – This colorless, odorless gas is present in many homes and is a recognized cause of lung cancer.
• Asbestos
• Air pollution

FAQ

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