[Stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. Interventional bronchoscopy in stage IIIB bronchial carcinoma]

Stage IIIB bronchial carcinoma frequently involves the central airways. Interventional bronchoscopy is recommended before any radiotherapy or chemotherapy in patients with symptoms or obstruction of more than 50% of the airway. This bronchoscopy should be undertaken with a rigid instrument with mechanical resection of polypoid tumours and insertion of stents for extrinsic compression. The combination of interventional bronchoscopy and radio/chemotherapy may be synergistic. Endobronchial administration of chemotherapy may be complementary to systemic treatment.