Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute is now offering patients a new, minimally invasive option for lung biopsy. The Ion endoluminal system, manufactured by Intuitive, allows for advanced maneuverability and navigation through narrow airways to nodules far into the peripheral lung. Abdulla Majid-Moosa, MD, performed the first case on Feb.15.
“The addition of the Ion system to our incidental lung nodule program will enable us to visualize and precisely biopsy lung nodules,” said Emily Cassidy, MD, a thoracic surgeon at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. “We will now be able to diagnose lung cancer earlier and start treatment earlier, providing more opportunity for a successful outcome.”
At Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute, an incidental lung nodule program helps to identify more patients with lung cancer at earlier stages before they have symptoms. The program is led by Cassidy and a multidisciplinary team formed with subject matter experts who gather every week to review CT scans of lung nodules that were taken in other departments.
“The Ion system revolutionizes how we approach lung nodules,” said Abdulla Majid-Moosa, DO, a pulmonologist at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. “Unlike common diagnostic methods where a biopsy needle passes through the chest wall and pierces the lung, this robotic-assisted technology is performed from within the patient’s airways.”
“Lung nodules are often found in difficult-to-access locations,” said Nicholas LeBlanc, MD, a thoracic surgeon at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. “The equipment affords us the opportunity to potentially diagnose lung cancer at an earlier stage permitting earlier therapeutics and increasing the chances for a successful outcome. I am excited about the benefits for our lung nodule patients here in Baton Rouge and south Louisiana.”
During the procedure, the clinical team utilizes the Ion system in combination with Philips Allura Cone-Beam computed tomography (CT) technology and augmented fluoroscopy to navigate a thin catheter down the patient’s trachea and into the peripheral lung. The cone-beam CT and augmented fluoroscopy provide real-time imaging of the airway throughout the procedure.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among people in the United States. In 2022, an estimated 237,000 new cases of lung cancer will be diagnosed. For those most at risk, annual lung cancer screenings improve a patient’s lung cancer survival rate. With the new Ion technology, patients who choose Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute for their care can benefit from this minimally invasive approach of diagnosis and staging lung cancer while reducing complications.
“Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute takes cancer services to the next level of treatment and effectiveness. We are committed to providing patient-focused and quality driven care,” said Linda Lee, LCSW, vice president of cancer services. “Ion demonstrates our commitment to high-quality care and will help our physicians evaluate patients more quickly.”