Dr Terence TAM Chi Chun

Advanced diagnostic bronchoscopies are cutting-edge procedures that enable the diagnosis and staging of lung diseases. The services include Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS), Virtual Bronchoscopy Navigation (VBN), Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy (ENB), and Dynamic Scan Guided Bronchoscopy Examination, among others.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory illness, which needs long term treatment. Common symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain, etc.

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) is a group of disorders that affect the interstitium of the lungs (the tissue surrounding the alveolar walls and their surrounding structures). The primary characteristics of ILD are inflammation and fibrosis of the lung tissue, resulting in impaired gas exchange.

Lung cancer is known as the "number one killer" among cancers in Hong Kong. Early diagnosis can significantly improve the cure rate of lung cancer. However, patients often discover lung cancer at the mid or late stage, missing the optimal treatment window.

Lung nodules refer to localized shadows or masses in the lungs with a diameter of less than 3 cm. “Lung nodules” per se is not a disease name. They are often asymptomatic and are usually discovered incidentally during health check-ups or imaging studies. The management of lung nodules is highly individualized. If you discover that you have lung nodules, do not panic. It is advisable to seek assistance from a specialist for evaluation and management as soon as possible.

Possible causes of Mediastinal Masses include lymph node enlargement (resulting from infections, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, or malignant tumours), tumours (such as thymoma, germ cell tumours, and schwannomas), cysts, or other diseases.

Pleural effusion refers to an abnormal buildup of fluid in the pleural cavity. Under normal circumstances, the pleural cavity contains only a small amount of fluid (about 10-20 ml) to lubricate the pleura during respiratory movements. When the fluid volume increases abnormally, it can compress lung tissues, potentially leading to breathing difficulties, chest pain, and other respiratory symptoms.

Pneumonia is a lung infection that bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens may cause. Tuberculosis (TB) is a pulmonary infection transmitted through tiny droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Treatment for pneumonia and tuberculosis primarily involves medical management. However, a small number of patients may require surgical intervention to assist with diagnosis or to manage disease-related complications, such as pleural effusion/empyema or poor lung re-expansion.

Respiratory failure occurs when the lungs cannot adequately fulfill their essential function of supplying oxygen to the body and removing carbon dioxide. It can be caused by various factors such as lung diseases, infections, injuries, or even certain medications.

Sleep apnea is a common form of sleep apnea, which is characterized by snoring and pauses in breathing. It requires treatment and lifestyle improvement.

Therapeutic bronchoscopy is a medical procedure that uses a flexible or rigid bronchoscope to diagnose and treat respiratory system diseases.

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) can be caused by bacterial or viral infection, commonly manifests as fever, sore throat and running nose, etc. It is usually self-limiting and recovered withing 3 weeks.