What are they used for?
Bronchoscopy may be used to:
Find and treat growths or other blockages in the airways
Remove lung tumors
Control bleeding in the airway
Help find the cause of persistent cough
If you've already been diagnosed with lung cancer, the test can help show how severe it is.
Bronchoscopy with BAL is used to collect tissue for testing. These tests help diagnose different disorders of the lungs including:
Bacterial infections such as tuberculosis and bacterial pneumonia
Fungal infections
Lung cancer
One or both tests may be used if an imaging test showed a potential problem with the lungs.
