Interventional pulmonology.

Abstract

The field of interventional pulmonology (IP) is primarily focused on the evaluation and management of patients with central airway obstruction, pleural disease, mediastinal/hilar adenopathy, and lung nodules/masses. It includes the use of advanced and minimally invasive diagnostic techniques such as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and thoracoscopy, as well as therapeutic techniques including rigid bronchoscopy and tunneled pleural catheters. The dramatic growth in IP over the last decade is attributable to both technologic advances and the attainment of a “critical mass” of physicians and researchers dedicated to clinical and translational investigation. Whereas IP literature previously consisted of case series and “how I do it” publications, we are now seeing large, multicentered randomized trials focused on patient-centered outcomes.