Interventional Pulmonology

The multidisciplinary interventional pulmonology team at the Lung Center at UM BWMC In Glen Burnie uses minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat a range of non-cancerous lung and airway conditions, including:

• Lung nodules
• Lung masses
• Lymphadenopathy
• Pleural disease

Interventional pulmonologists work closely with thoracic surgeons, oncologists, interventional radiologists and pathologists to create individualized care plans that incorporate the most effective, advanced treatments and patients’ recovery goals.

Interventional Pulmonology Diagnosis and Treatment Tools

• Bronchoscopy – Interventional pulmonologists examine the air passages in your lungs using a bronchoscope – a long, thin tube with a camera at one end. They can also pass special tools through the tube to take tissue samples.
• Navigational bronchoscopy – A navigational bronchoscopy, also known as electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB), is an advanced form of bronchoscopy that works like a GPS. This procedure uses CT images and a traditional bronchoscope to help specialists access the most distant regions of the lungs and detect even the smallest lesions.
• Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) bronchoscopy – This type of bronchoscopy uses a camera with an ultrasound probe attached to create images of your lungs and lymph nodes. This helps specialists locate and evaluate any areas seen on previous images that need extra attention.
• Pleuroscopy – Also known as a medical thoracoscopy, a pleuroscopy is a procedure used to evaluate, diagnose and treat conditions like extra fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion). Specialists place a small, thin video camera known as a pleuroscope through your chest. Then, they will either drain the fluid, take a tissue sample or give you medicine to prevent fluid from building up.