Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to look at your airway through a viewing instrument called a bronchoscope. During a bronchoscopy, your doctor will examine your throat, larynx, trachea and lower airways.

Bronchoscopy may be used to:

• Find the cause of chronic airway problems, such as bleeding, trouble breathing or a long-term (chronic) cough.
• Take tissue samples when other tests, such as chest X-ray or CT scan, show problems with the lung or with lymph nodes in the chest.
• 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.
• Check and treat growths in the airway.
• Treat areas of the airway that have narrowed and are causing problems.