Robotic Bronchoscopy

The latest advancement for early diagnosis of lung cancer — robotic bronchoscopy — enables safe and accurate detection and biopsy of very small, hard-to-reach lung nodules.

Not all lung nodules are cancerous (many are benign) and so a biopsy is necessary for a definitive diagnosis. As lung cancer screening increases, however, the lung nodules and lesions detected by CT scanning tend to be smaller and deeper in the lungs. 

For nodules too small and too far into peripheral, or outer, areas of the lungs to biopsy with standard bronchoscopy, physicians typically need to decide between monitoring them or performing surgery. If they choose to monitor them, they will watch for growth or other malignant characteristics, and this risks possible metastasis. While the option to perform surgery carries other risks, such as collapsed lung and other complications.

With robotic bronchoscopy, Roswell Park’s thoracic surgeons and interventional pulmonologists can find and biopsy small, peripheral nodules and get the answers you need today — without surgery.

The latest innovation

Five years ago, Roswell Park was the first hospital in New York State to offer robotic bronchoscopy to explore and biopsy lesions or nodules in patients’ lungs believed to be cancerous.

Technology continually evolves and Roswell Park has now adopted the latest robotic bronchoscope innovation, the Galaxy System. The new system is better able to triangulate the location of the nodule in real time, a significant improvement because where a CT scan says the nodule is and where it actually is during the biopsy, can differ by as much as 20 millimeters. The new technology offers:

• Greater precision in locating and evaluating smaller nodules and less dense nodules (the kind more likely to be cancerous)
• Significantly less radiation exposure
• Reduced risk for collapsed lung or bleeding after biopsy

The ability to diagnose these early cancers and begin treatment sooner than otherwise possible promises to increase chances of survival and avoid unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures.

Learn about our Lung Cancer Screening Program

Roswell Park is able to offer this new approach to patients because of donations from individuals and organizations to the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation.