Integration of Robotic Navigational Bronchoscopy Into a Community Academic Cancer Program

Triage of indeterminate pulmonary nodules to biopsy, resection, observation or ablative therapy is an essential component of comprehensive oncology care. Early NSCLC detection improves 5 year survival. Characterization of contralateral nodules enhances surgical staging in new lung cancers. Tissue diagnosis of pulmonary nodules may prevent unnecessary resection; series have reported up to 40% benign diagnosis in surgically resected nodules. We are evaluating the utility of the robotic navigational bronchoscope (Ion) in a community academic oncology program including: safety, diagnostic yield, localization efficacy, and value of single anesthesia for Ion diagnosis with simultaneous surgical resection.
Source: Journal of the American College of Surgeons - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Thoracic Surgery Source Type: research