Medical Informations

Medical Informative Booklets

Screening

Early screening of the bronchial Cancer
Bronchoscopic examination by photodetection

This technique of bronchial endoscopic exploration, invented by the Canadians at the beginning of the 1990's, is used at the Jules Bordet Institute since several years.

 

What is a bronchoscopic examination ?

- It allows a meticulous observation of the aspect of the main bronchial mucous membrane by an endoscope of a thin calibre that is introduced in the mouth under local anaesthesia.
- The particularity of the examination consists of the utilisation of special light (blue) that allows to discover precancerous or cancerous lesions, which are invisible by conventional white light.
At this stage, a bronchial cancer is not visible by radiographic examinations and most often it is curable with local treatments.

 

Practical information

Preparation to the examination
Before the examination :
- Not to have eaten, drunk or smoked for more than four hours
- Do not take some drugs before the examination : Aspirine®, Persantine® (dipyridamole) or similar drugs
- Inform the nurse if you take drugs such as Sintron® or other anticoagulants

During the examination
The endoscopy will take place after the anesthesia of the mouth and the larynx (it is performed with a spray).
- The examination takes place in consultation
- It lasts about 25 minutes
- You are comfortably installed in an armchair in a half dark room for technical reasons.

If some abnormal areas are revealed by the endoscopy in blue light, biopsies will be performed in order to precise the nature of these abnormalities.
Indeed, the examination is very sensitive, but the final diagnosis requires the precise analysis of the swab on the microscope.
In this context, an examination of bronchial cells, which are obtained by expectoration, is also performed.

How long does the examination last ?
- 45 minutes in all.
- 25 minutes for the examination only.
If for technical or other reasons, the schedule is changed, we would inform you.

Is it painful ?
No.
According to patients, the examination is uncomfortable but the mouth anaesthesia is the more umcomfortable.

Endoscopic examination results
They are based on of biopsies analysis.
Conclusions of the examination are sent to the prescription doctor.

 

Photodetection service
Polyclinic of the Jules Bordet Institute, 3rd floor
121 bd de Waterloo 1000 Brussels
Tel : 02/541.30.75 or 541.30.76

 

Brochure realized by the "Friends of the Bordet Institute"

 

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