Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, and the leading cause of cancer deaths. Early detection and treatment are the keys to better outcomes, and advancements in both areas are helping people live longer and healthier lives. Tufts Medical Center interventional pulmonologist Marianne Barry, MD, shares how minimally-invasive robotic-assisted bronchoscopy is helping diagnose lung cancer more quickly, accurately and with fewer side effects.
Should I be screened for lung cancer?
A lung cancer diagnosis starts with a low dose CT scan (LDCT)—an X-ray that emits a very low dose of radiation and gives doctors a detailed picture of your lungs. You should be screened for lung cancer if you are between 50- 80 years old, and have a 20-pack per year history of smoking or more (e.g.,1 pack a day for the last 20 years, or 2 packs a day for the last 10 years), and are currently smoking or quit within the past 15 years. You should also speak to your doctor if you have a family history of lung cancer, or exposure to secondhand smoke, radon or asbestos.
Learn more about lung cancer screening.
What happens if my LDCT scan shows evidence of lung cancer?
If the scan shows a suspicious lung nodule, you may need a biopsy of the nodule which is typically performed during a procedure called bronchoscopy. Traditional bronchoscopy has been around for several decades and involves passing a thin, flexible tube into the airway. This allows the pulmonologist to collect samples from inside the airways and from the lung itself. At Tufts Medicine we use a more advanced and precise robotic-assisted bronchoscopy technique.
What is robotic-assisted bronchoscopy?
During a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy, we use a controller to operate a robotic arm that guides a thin, flexible catheter through the patient’s airways. This technique has many advantages over traditional bronchoscopy. The robotic arm allows for more precise movements, letting your doctor examine areas of the lung that are difficult to navigate to with a traditional bronchoscope. The procedure also has improved diagnostic accuracy and allow us to access lung nodules that were previously too challenging to biopsy. It’s performed as an outpatient procedure and allows for few, if any, side effects.
Advancements like robotic-assisted bronchoscopy are important because they allow us to move patients from diagnosis to treatment quickly. Time is of the essence with lung cancer so our goal is to get patients from screening to treatment within weeks if not sooner.
Learn more about lung cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment.
