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Health Matters: Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center | 11 A Better Lung Biopsy Brand-new robotic technology allows doctors to detect cancer earlier than ever. W e know early detection is crucial for successful cancer treatment. The earlier a suspicious growth in your lung is detected, the earlier it can be biopsied, improving the chances for successful treatment if it does turn out to be cancer. At Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, we are committed to offering the best new technology to detect this very serious cancer. "The ION robot is leading-edge technology, and we are pleased to be one of just a handful of hospitals across the nation currently offering this procedure to patients suspected of having lung cancer," says thoracic surgeon Andrew Brownlee, MD. The robot provides a minimally invasive method to biopsy small, hard-to-reach nodules. With this new advanced technology, we can help our patients get faster diagnoses. Many lung nodules are found on X-rays or CT scans to detect lung cancer or other conditions. "A large proportion of the nodules that are found turn out to be cancers," Dr. Brownlee says. "The problem is that 85% of them are located in the middle or at the periphery of the lung, which makes them hard to reach with regular surgical tools." With the ION robot, we are able to reach very small nodules, previously inaccessible, by using shape-sensing technology to navigate out to the edges of the lung. "It does this very accurately and safely without the need for an incision—something all of our patients are very relieved to hear," Dr. Brownlee says. Previously, many small lung nodules would be subject to "watchful waiting" to see if they grew. The time between finding one and determining whether it was cancer could be two months or longer, an anxiety-filled period for most patients. "With the ION, that time is greatly shortened because there's less need to wait for a nodule to grow before it can be biopsied," Dr. Brownlee says. "For small nodules like very early lung cancers, the chance of getting an accurate diagnosis sooner is much higher with this technology." A SAFE, FAST PROCEDURE The ION doesn't just provide faster results, it also provides patients with a safe option. "This procedure can replace surgical biopsies in many cases, is performed on an outpatient basis under anesthesia and has a very low risk of complications," Dr. Brownlee says. "It also can reduce the number of surgeries performed to remove nodules that turn out to be benign." This is good news for current and former smokers. About 90% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking, and while smoking rates have been declining for decades, about 15% of Americans still haven't quit. While those who do can reduce their chances of getting lung cancer, the elevated risk never goes away. According to American Cancer Society estimates, nearly 237,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2022, and there will be about 130,180 deaths. "When you come here to get a lung nodule investigated, you will be treated by a professional team who work together to provide you a very fast pathway from biopsy to diagnosis to potential surgery," Dr. Brownlee says. "And a few select patients can even have the nodule removed at the same time as the biopsy. This cuts the waiting time to zero and requires just a single anesthesia." The technology, he adds, "is revolutionizing the way we approach lung cancer. It helps us deliver exceptional care to our patients while reducing the distress related to waiting." SCREENING THAT SAVES LIVES If you're age 55 to 80, have a 20-pack-year or more smoking history, are currently smoking or have quit within the past 15 years, you are eligible for low-dose radiation CT lung cancer screening that is covered by insurance. These screenings, which detect tumors in their earliest, smallest stages, when they are most treatable, can reduce lung cancer deaths by 20% or more. The American College of Radiology has designated Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana as a Lung Cancer Screening Center for providing this service.

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