Future of flexible bronchoscopy

Predicting the future of such a versatile instrument that is used for clini cal and research applications is a difficult task. Despite some potential " threats," the future of bronchoscopy is likely to be filled with ever expan ding applications in clinical medicine and research. Many developments are still in progress and newer applications continue to evolve. This article r eviews some of the recent advances in bronchoscopy and their potential for future application in clinical practice and research. The authors also touc h on developments in other disciplines that may impact bronchoscopy by eith er enhancing its potential or limiting its use.