Early-Stage Lung Cancer Detection
Ion Robotic-Assisted Endoluminal Bronchoscopy
If you recently learned you have a suspicious small mass or nodule on your lung, you may find yourself struggling to cope with the uncertainty of whether the nodule is benign or cancerous. Your physician may recommend you have it checked out further by having a lung biopsy. Fewer than 5% of nodules are actually cancer, but your doctor may recommend you find out for sure.
Traditionally, if a nodule was small (less than 1 cm), pulmonologists would observe and wait to see if the nodule would grow. Now, with Ion robotic technology, patients no longer need to wait for answers.
What is a Lung Biopsy?
Biopsy involves obtaining a tissue sample from the suspicious area and examining the cells under a microscope to determine if cancer or another disease is present. There are a number of ways to obtain tissue for biopsy. The biopsy approach your doctor will recommend depends on the size of the nodule, the location within the lung and your overall health.
How Does Ion Work?
During robotic-assisted bronchoscopy with Ion, your pulmonologist guides an ultra-thin catheter through your airway to the area of your lung for biopsy. The small, flexible catheter can reach all segments of the lung — even far into the outer lung. Once at the location of the nodule for biopsy, the catheter locks in place. Your pulmonologist will insert biopsy tools through the catheter to take a sample of your lung tissue.
Advantages of Ion
The Ion robotic system can reach all 18 segments of the lungs with an ultra-thin catheter and integrated vision probe that provide the physician direct vision to reach all parts of the lungs. The catheter can move 180° in all directions with the Flexision™ biopsy needle, a flexible biopsy needle allowing for an overall less invasive approach to lung biopsy.
