Introduction to different approaches to intrabronchial treatment.

The field of bronchoscopy has considerably expanded in recent years. The rigid and flexible bronchoscope are used both for diagnostic and increasingly for therapeutic procedures. For the therapeutic procedures, the term "interventional bronchoscopy" has been coined. Apart from the more traditional indications for interventional bronchoscopies, such as aspiration of secretions and removal of foreign bodies, the treatment of early lung cancer and of inoperable stenoses of the central airways - benign or malignant-has moved to the centre stage of interventional endoscopies. This review focuses on the technique and indication for the following procedures: dilatation, diathermy, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, laser resection, brachytherapy and the insertion of stents (endoprostheses).