Bronchoscopy: Why It Is Done
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Why It Is Done
Bronchoscopy may be used to:
- Identify the cause of airway problems, such as bleeding, difficulty breathing, or a long-term (chronic) cough.
- Take tissue samples when other tests, such as a chest X-ray or CT scan, show problems with the lung.
- Diagnose lung diseases by collecting tissue or mucus (sputum) samples for examination.
- Diagnose and determine the extent of lung cancer.
- Remove objects blocking the airway.
- Evaluate and treat growths in the airway
. - Control bleeding.
- Treat cancer of the airway using radioactive materials (brachytherapy).
| Last updated: | June 06, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Robert L. Cowie, MB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Pulmonology |
| Editors: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Tracy Landauer |
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