Bronchoscopic Treatment of Tracheobronchial Neoplasms: Ablation and Medication Delivery

Therapeutic bronchoscopy is well established for palliative treatment of advanced malignancies, including for recanalization of malignant central airway obstruction. Although less common in clinical practice, bronchoscopic treatments (including thermal ablation) may also be considered for curative endobronchial treatment in several clinical scenarios including benign or occasionally low-grade purely endoluminal neoplasms. In this article, we highlight evidence for where endobronchial therapies for curative intent may be considered based on clinical experience over several decades. Although treatment of peripheral lung malignancies remains investigational at this time, advantages and disadvantages of several ablative techniques and potential immunostimulatory therapies are also discussed.