1. Irritating cough of unknown cause
If it lasts for more than 10 days, or the throat has changed its characteristics, it is a signal to be vigilant. It can be a manifestation of some inflammation, or it may be an early symptom of lung cancer, but this symptom is often ignored by people.
2. Hemoptysis or sputum
The lower respiratory tract is rich in blood vessels, and there are more opportunities for hemoptysis. People are more wary of a little blood. Studies have shown that bronchoscopy due to hemoptysis accounts for about half of the total number of people examined. The results of the examination confirm that about 2/3 are lung cancer. Lung cancer hemoptysis is characterized by small amount, freshness and persistence.
3. Atelectasis
After the atelectasis is confirmed by X-ray fluoroscopy or photography, bronchoscopy should be done. According to statistics, bronchoscopy for atelectasis accounts for about 1/3 of the total number of people examined, of which lung cancer accounts for 2/3. Such a high positive rate is certainly an indication for this examination.
4. Hilar enlargement or spherical or block shadow
It is often a change of mediastinal lymph node enlargement, and central lung cancer is often manifested by this. Bronchoscopy is common to squeeze deformation of the lumen or new organisms in the lumen. Tuberculous bronchial lymphadenitis also has similar changes. Bronchoscopy is a diagnostic method to obtain cytological or histological evidence.
5. Peripheral spherical or massive shadow
Peripheral lesions are difficult to characterize. Although it is not easy to see the peripheral lung fields with bronchoscopy, after determining the lung segment, distant cytology smears also have a higher positive rate, which is more acceptable than percutaneous lung puncture or thoracotomy.
6. Localized lung stridor
It is caused by stenosis of the tracheobronchial lumen. The occupying and squeezing of new organisms is the most common. Lung cancer and tuberculosis are the main reasons.
7. Recurrent pneumonia at fixed sites
This may be because lung cancer has spread to lymphatic vessels, or it may be accompanied by infection. The clinical treatment effect is often more solid and not easy to subside than general inflammation.
8. Symptoms and signs suspected of being linked to bronchial disease
9. Positive exfoliated cells in sputum but negative lung x-ray
10. Routine examination before lung surgery
Clarify the scope of resection and surgical procedures, and understand the condition of normal lung segments as a reference for surgical planning.
11. Postoperative lung cancer, radiotherapy, chemotherapy process or follow-up
Bronchoscopy is an inspection method to observe the effect, determine the recurrence, and supplement the treatment.
12. Remove pus plugs, mucus plugs, pus and other bronchial obstructions, improve drainage, inject drugs to treat abscesses, and inject contrast media to confirm the diagnosis
13. Do lung biopsy, lung lavage, guide laser electrocautery to stop bleeding
14. Remove the bronchial foreign body
About 98% of the bronchial foreign bodies can be removed from the bronchoscope. The larger ones can be removed by the hard bronchoscope. The fine foreign bodies that fall to the periphery can be removed by the soft fiber bronchoscope, or with X-ray.
