Tracheobronchial tree conducts air from upper airways to lung parenchyma. Tree undergoes approximately 23 generations of branching. Asymmetrical branching ensures uniform ventilation across lung regions. Trachea extends from larynx to carina, dividing into right and left mainstem bronchi
First performed by Gustav Killian in 1897 using rigid bronchoscope. Chevalier Jackson refined rigid bronchoscope in 1920s. Shigeto Ikeda invented flexible bronchoscope in 1966. Modern bronchoscopes use CCD video chips instead of fiberoptic bundles
Chest X-rays create images of lungs, airways, heart, blood vessels and bones. X-rays use radiation to create images, organs appear white/gray. Low-resolution images make subtle details hard to spot. Normal body parts like bones can obscure small tumors. Diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis can hide cancerous growths
Bronchoscopy allows doctors to examine lungs and air passages. Thin tube (bronchoscope) is passed through nose or mouth. Procedure typically takes 30-60 minutes, total 4 hours. Flexible bronchoscope most common, rigid used for severe cases
Five patients with carcinoid tumors and epithelial tumors were treated surgically. All patients were female (4 male, 1 female) with mean age 61.8 years. Coughing was the predominant symptom in all cases. Mean follow-up duration was 30 months