What conditions require a bronchoscopy?

Generally, diseases that may require bronchoscopy include obstructive pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, and central lung cancer. The details are as follows:

1. Obstructive Pneumonia

Bronchoscopy is one of the important diagnostic and therapeutic tools for respiratory diseases. Obstructive pneumonia is usually caused by airway obstruction; therefore, bronchoscopy is commonly used to assess whether the bronchi are patent.

2. Bronchitis

The purpose of bronchoscopy is to diagnose and treat diseases. When patients present symptoms of bronchitis, bronchoscopy can help identify the causes of recurrent cough, hemoptysis, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

3. Bronchial Asthma

For patients with bronchial asthma whose symptoms are not well controlled despite treatment with glucocorticoids and long-acting beta-2 agonists, bronchoscopy may be used to investigate underlying causes and guide targeted therapy.

4. Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a chronic wasting disease primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If tuberculosis is suspected, bronchoscopy can be performed to collect deep tracheal sputum. Smear tests or bacterial cultures of the sputum can then assist in confirming the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

5. Central Lung Cancer

Bronchoscopy is a key method for diagnosing central lung cancer. It allows direct visualization of lesions under the scope to assess malignancy, enables biopsy collection for pathological diagnosis, and permits cytological testing using a brush. Therefore, when central lung cancer is suspected, bronchoscopy should be performed as directed by a physician for accurate diagnosis.

Patients are advised to seek timely medical attention when experiencing any discomfort and to receive standardized treatment under the guidance of a healthcare provider, which promotes recovery.