Advances in endobronchial ablative therapies

Abstract

: Endobronchial ablative therapies are standard of care in therapeutic bronchoscopy for management of malignant and non-malignant central airway obstruction and of endobronchial bleeding. In malignant and non-malignant central airway obstruction with endoluminal involvement, a multi-modality bronchoscopic approach combining endobronchial ablative therapies, mechanical debulking, airway dilation, and airway stent placement is often first line treatment. Endobronchial ablative therapies can be utilized in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery to improve quality of life and possibly long-term survival in malignant central airway obstruction. In select cases, endobronchial ablative therapies are treatment options with curative intent for endobronchial carcinoma in situ and early lung cancers. High quality clinical trials directly comparing the efficacy and safety profiles among endobronchial ablative therapies are lacking. Herein, endobronchial ablative therapies are reviewed.