Therapeutic bronchoscopy in lung cancer. Laser therapy, electrocautery, brachytherapy, stents, and photodynamic therapy.

Abstract

Therapeutic bronchoscopic techniques such as LPR, EC, brachytherapy, stents, and PDT are effective tools in the palliation and local control of lung cancer. Palliation of malignant tracheobronchial obstruction by LPR, stents, brachytherapy, PDT, or a combination thereof results in relief of dyspnea, hemoptysis, and postobstructive pneumonia. Importantly, it avoids intubation in patients with respiratory distress and facilitates the weaning of patients from MV. In the exciting field of lung cancer screening and treatment of early lung cancer, PDT, brachytherapy, EC, and LPR may represent treatment alternatives to surgical resection, especially in a select group of patients with high surgical risk or favorable endobronchial lesions. Clinicians await the results of future studies, which will (1) better define the impact of each treatment modality on patient care in terms of cost, survival, and improvement in quality of life, and (2) determine the optimal combination therapy relative to bronchoscopic and conventional treatment for effective palliation and cure of lung cancer.