New Lung Biopsy Technology Now Available at Archbold

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, making up almost 25% of all cancer deaths. However, lung cancer deaths continue to drop partly due to early detection and treatment advances.

Lung cancer is commonly diagnosed by a biopsy of a suspicious spot on your lung, commonly called a nodule. A biopsy involves obtaining a tissue sample from the suspicious area and examining the cells. However, some areas of the lung are hard to get to and previously were difficult to navigate with other biopsy technology.

Archbold is pleased to now offer patients access to the Ion Endoluminal System for lung biopsies to better access hard-to-reach areas in the lung.

The system is a robotic-assisted platform for minimally invasive biopsy in the lung. Ion is designed to address a challenging aspect of lung biopsy by enabling physicians to obtain tissue samples deep within the lung.

“The Ion system features an ultra-thin and maneuverable catheter which allows us to navigate far into the peripheral lung,” said Preston Sparks, DO, general and thoracic surgeon at VITA Vascular/VITA Surgery. “This unprecedented stability enables the precision needed for a lung biopsy compared to manual techniques.”

“This new technology makes it easier for us to reach all areas of the lung,” said Johnny Belenchia, MD, pulmonologist at Archbold Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Services. “This allows us to better treat our patients with questionable lung spots by still using minimally-invasive techniques.”

Once the pulmonary nodule is reached, the catheter locks in place. The biopsy needle then passes through the catheter, even when positioned in tight airways. After advancing around tight-radius bends of the catheter, the needle deploys into the target location on a straight path.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this technology to our patients,” said Ed Hall, MD, general surgeon at South Georgia Surgical Associates. “Early detection is key to effectively treating lung cancer, and this system will allow us to diagnose and begin cancer treatments earlier than previous methods.”