Bronchoscopy
A bronchoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to examine your airways. Your doctor will thread an instrument called a bronchoscope through your nose and down your throat to reach your lungs. The bronchoscope is made of a flexible fiber-optic material and has a light source and a viewing device or camera on the end. Most bronchoscopes are compatible with color video, which helps your doctor document their findings.Using the bronchoscope, your doctor can view all of the structures that make up your respiratory system including your larynx, trachea, and the smaller airways of your lungs, which include the bronchi and bronchioles.A bronchoscopy can be used to diagnose:
- A lung disease
- A tumor
- A chronic cough
- An infection
Your doctor may order a bronchoscopy if you have an abnormal chest X-ray or CT scan that shows evidence of an infection, a tumor, or a collapsed lung. The test is also sometimes used as a treatment tool. For example, a bronchoscopy can allow your doctor to deliver medication to your lungs or remove an object that’s caught in your airways, like a piece of food.