Excision of Airway Lesions

Primary airway lesions in the pediatric population are rare; however, it is important for the interventional pulmonologist to have a good understanding of the various excisional techniques and their application to the pediatric population. Lesion excision requires careful consideration to tailor specific equipment to specific anatomy, and airway caliber in the pediatric population is often the main limitation to applying those techniques to individual children. Obstruction from endobronchial tumors can require a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach. There is little data to guide the interventionalist other than clinical experience and case reports. In the following chapter the most common lesions are discussed as are the various techniques for airway lesion excision including laser ablation, mechanical excision, and cryotherapy.