Lung cancer and interventional bronchoscopy service

Lung cancer

UCLH has a comprehensive lung cancer service and we see both local secondary referrals and tertiary referrals from across the UK. Our results in the National Lung Cancer Audit are outstanding.

We are part of Cancer Research UK’s Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence and are recognised globally as one of the premier research centres in lung cancer. We lead several internationally renowned trials including TRACERx and the SUMMIT study. A key component of the centre is a focus on early detection of lung cancer and rapid diagnosis.

UCLH heads several national and international trials in chemotherapeutics, genomics and early diagnosis of lung cancer. This includes the largest lung cancer screening project in the UK (the SUMMIT study) and one of the most comprehensive longitudinal surveillance bronchoscopy programmes for patients with premalignant changes in their lung.

We offer a rapid diagnostics clinic in the UCLH Macmillan Cancer Centre, which includes state-of-the-art imaging with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron-emission tomography (PET) CT/MRI for patients with suspected lung cancer. All patients are seen urgently and we are able to rapidly reassure two thirds of patients that they do not have cancer at their first appointment.

Bronchoscopy

At UCLH, we have a bronchoscopy suite with state-of-the-art equipment and technology used to deliver minimally invasive endoscopic techniques to diagnose and treat lung cancer, and other cancers and diseases of the airway.

We routinely perform advanced diagnostic techniques such as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and navigational and image-guided bronchoscopy – more than 90% of these are performed on an outpatient basis. We also run a pre-cancer surveillance programme for patients with suspicious changes in their airways using autofluorescence bronchoscopy – this uses autofluorescence light to detect premalignant lesions not usually seen with standard bronchoscopy.

We offer therapeutic endoscopic treatments to treat early tumours in the airway and patients presenting with an obstructed or narrowed airway, usually as a result of a tumour.

Interventional bronchoscopy treatments include:

• Endobronchial treatment using laser or argon plasma
• Cryotherapy (a freezing treatment to destroy tumours)
• Photodynamic therapy (uses light treatment to destroy cancers)
• Brachytherapy (delivers localised radiotherapy by placing radioactive material internally to treat cancers in the lung)
• Airway stent placement (uses metal or silicone stents to provide support to the windpipe)
• Endoscopic lung volume reduction

Testimonials

“My consultant explained the procedure to me and I was taken into the operating theatre and sedated. It was all over so quickly – there were no side effects from the procedure and I felt really positive about the whole process.”