Cooper’s pulmonary experts were the first in the world to use Boston Scientific’s iNodTM Ultrasound Guided Biopsy Needle in conjunction with robotic bronchoscopy, a new tool used to investigate suspicious peripheral pulmonary lesions in the lung, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
Peripheral pulmonary lesions are small suspicious growths located in distant outlying regions of the lung that are often hard to reach and biopsy due to their size and location. The iNod system allows physicians to accurately maneuver through the lung tissue to reach these small lesions under real-time ultrasound guidance and remove a sample to test for malignancy.
“Because of the difficulty of reaching small peripheral pulmonary lesions, physicians frequently took a conservative approach by closely observing growth or changes to the lesion over time or using more complicated methods to reach the suspected tumor. With this new system, we can reach these small growths and biopsy them sooner, potentially diagnosing lung cancer and beginning treatment much sooner,” said Wissam Abouzgheib, MD, Division Head of Pulmonary Medicine and Section Head of Interventional Pulmonology at Cooper.
Pulmonary medicine specialists at Cooper treat disorders of the lungs, including chronic diseases such as emphysema and asthma, and acute pulmonary problems such as pneumonia. Interventional pulmonology is a specialized area of pulmonary medicine in which pulmonologists use advanced tools and techniques to diagnosis and treat diseases of the lungs and chest. Cooper interventional pulmonologists are an essential component of the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper Lung Cancer Center team.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society, about 238,340 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2023, with about 127,070 deaths.
“Examining and testing the smallest lesions in the lung even sooner can have big implications in treatment options and outcomes,” Dr. Abouzgheib said. “At Cooper, we are committed to continually investigating and adopting the latest and most advanced technology and procedures for the benefit of our patients.”