Therapeutic endoscopy indications in lung cancers
| Indications | Laser-assisted resection | High-frequency electrocautery | PDT | Cryotherapy | Silicone stents | Brachytherapy |
| Tracheal tumour with acute dyspnoea | ++++ | +++ | NO | NO | NO | NO |
| Tracheal or bronchial tumour without acute dyspnoea | ++++ | ++++ | + | +++ | NO | +++ |
| Distal tumour | + fibrescope | +++ | +++ | ++ | NO | +++ |
| Infiltrative tumour | NO | ++ | ++++ | ++++ | NO | ++++ |
| Early stages | + | +++ | +++ | ++++ | NO | ++++ |
| Coagulation | +++ immediate | +++ immediate | +/++ delayed | ++++ delayed | possible | ++++ delayed |
| External compression | NO | NO | NO | NO | ++++ | ++ |
PDT: photodynamic therapy; NO: not indication; +: slightly positive; ++: strongly positive; +++: very strongly positive; ++++: extremely strongly positive.