Interventional pulmonology.

Interventional pulmonology is a rapidly growing field of pulmonary medicine. It is a procedure-based subspecialty focusing on minimally invasive advanced diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Current interventions include advanced bronchoscopic imaging, guidance methods for diagnostic bronchoscopy, therapeutic modalities for central airway obstructions, pleural interventions, and novel therapies for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This article is an introduction to pertinent interventions within the context of the diseases encountered by the trained interventional pulmonologist.