A bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows doctors to look into the respiratory airways for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. It consists in the insertion of a rigid tube (rigid bronchoscopy) or a flexible tube (flexible bronchoscopy) into the nose or mouth. It is then passed down the pharynx, larynx, and trachea, till reaching the bronchi, while visualising other anatomical structures. In those cases in which it is required, some type of instrumentation can also be performed through the bronchoscope (brushing, biopsy, etc).
