Preface

It is with great pleasure that we bring you this special issue—The Past, Current and Future Development of High Technology Applied in Thoracic Diseases. International experts have come together to offer a comprehensive review of the history, recent advances and future of minimally invasive thoracic procedures. Dr. Ko-Pen Wang, a pioneer in the field of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA), has organized a section on TBNA that reviews the evolution and clinical importance of TBNA as well as discussing practical techniques to increase yield. More recent developments such as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and bronchoscopic treatment of tracheoesophageal fistula are also reviewed. Dr. Kelvin Hong then edits a section on transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA), with articles discussing the role of TBNA vs. TTNA, and the novel diagnostic approach of electromagnetic navigation guided TTNA. This section is then followed by a section on malignant pleural disease and thoracoscopy. Dr. Yarums then edits a section dedicated to therapeutic bronchoscopy describing rigid bronchoscopy, airway stenting, thermal ablative techniques and the new technique of spray cryotherapy. Lastly, Dr. Lee reviews the efforts to standardize training in the field of Interventional Pulmonology. We are greatly appreciative for the efforts made by all of the authors as well as the Editorial Staff in bringing this issue to fruition and hope this issue serves as an invaluable reference as well as a source to ignite ideas to further the field of interventional pulmonology.