Imaging fluorescence bronchoscopy for localizing early bronchial cancer and carcinoma in situ

A system of imaging fluorescence bronchoscopy instrumentation and methods has been devised that has succeeded in localizing very small (1 X 2 mm) areas of bronchial mucosal cancer, in individuals with radiologically occult lung cancer (positive sputum cytology for malignant cells and a negative chest X-ray). These areas were located solely by their fluorescence, and were visibly normal on white-light examination. The detection of lung cancer in individuals with radiologically occult lung cancer depends upon adequate methods of sputum collection and processing. Proving that fluorescing areas show "true positive" fluorescence depends upon accurate brush and forceps biopsies, providing adequate cytological and biopsy material. The entire system of the diagnosis and localization of early or pre-invasive lung cancer (while still confined to a bronchus) rests on skilled cytopathology methods and interpretation, not only skilled fluorescence bronchoscopic examination and adequate instrumentation.