Interventional Pulmonology
The field of interventional pulmonology covers a wide variety of procedures useful for screening, diagnosing and treating diseases of the chest.
Pulmonary procedures may include:
- Autoflourescence bronchoscopy as a possible tool for early detection of lung cancer
- Chest ultrasound of the airways, lungs and the esophagus for real-time imaging that might reveal abnormalities of lymph nodes, lung nodules or masses, blood vessels, and airway abnormalities (useful for those with asthma or emphysema). Ultrasound is also useful for real-time image-guided samples (biopsy) of these abnormalities.
- Electromagnetic field technology to better isolate and biopsy lesions on the periphery of the lung.
- AF Bronchoscopy
- Endoscopic Ultrasound
- Endobronchial Ultrasound
- Electromagnetic-guided biopsy
Interventional pulmonology is also used for relief and treatment of any form of airway obstruction, narrowing or weakness. Treatments may include of a variety of different tools such as :
- lasers
- specially-placed catheters for radiation therapy
- stents
- flexible and rigid bronchocoscopy
- electrocautry
- argon plasma coagulation
- brachytherapy catheters, wires and beads
- tunneled Pleural (Pleurx) Catheters
- injection of chemotherapy agents into tumors
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