Bronchoscopy Home A-Z Health Information Health Library A-Z Bronchoscopy Overview Bronchoscopy is a procedure that lets doctors look at your lungs and air passages. It is usually performed by a doctor who specialises in lung disorders (a pulmonologist). During bronchoscopy, a thin tube (bronchoscope) is passed through the nose or mouth, down the throat, and into the lungs.Common reasons for needing bronchoscopy are a persistent cough, infection, or some unusual findings on a chest X-ray or other tests.Bronchoscopy can also be used to obtain samples of mucus or tissue, to remove foreign bodies or other blockages from the airways or lungs, or to provide treatment for lung problems. Reasons for doing a bronchoscopy include Diagnosis of a lung problemIdentification of a lung infectionBiopsy of lung tissueRemoval of mucus, a foreign body, or other obstructions in the airways or lungs, such as a tumourPlacement of a small tube to hold open an airway (stent)Treatment of a lung problem (interventional bronchoscopy), such as bleeding, an abnormal narrowing of the airway (stricture), or a collapsed lung (pneumothorax)1