Traitements endoscopiques dans le cancer bronchique

Except its essential role in the diagnosis, bronchial endoscopy also takes an important part in the treatment of lung cancer. First, bronchial endoscopy has a key-role in the treatment of cancer with bronchial obstruction. Endoscopic techniques can lead to quick bronchial desobstruction and therefore they allow symptoms improvement and decrease of respiratory and infectious complications. This improvement of the patient health situation also will permit a more complete and efficient approach using curative therapies (radiotherapy and chemotherapy). Endoscopic local treatment must be integrated in a multimodal therapeutic approach in association with curative treatments. Modern endoscopy also contributes into the treatment of early roentgen occult lung cancer. Phototherapy, and as an alternative, techniques of electrocautery, cryotherapy and brachytherapy, can be used to treat these early lung cancer in patients who are not surgical candidates.