The Importance of Bronchoscopy in Early Lung Cancer (LC) Diagnosis

Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, due to the fact that most patients are diagnosed in a fairly advanced stage. Screening tests such as sputum citology, chest x-rays or CT scans have their limitations and need further histological confirmation of the diagnosis.

Therefore, the need forfast and accurate detection and staging of lung cancer has determined the development of advanced medical procedures using bronchoscopic methods such as white light bronchoscopy, narrow-band imaging, auto-fluorescence bronchoscopy, confocal fluorescence microendoscopy or echoendoscopy.