Fluorescence bronchoscopy for the early detection of lung cancer

Abstract

Lung cancer accounts for more deaths than any other malignancy in the developed countries of the world. Although surgery offers the best prospect of cure for patients with early stage tumours,2the majority already have advanced and inoperable disease by the time they develop symptoms and present to their general practitioners.3 The five year survival rates for patients with lung cancer have remained depressingly low at 7–13%.4 5