Thomas Hospitals first in region to use robotic technology for early detection of lung cancer

SOUTH CHALRESTON, W.Va. (March 30, 2023) – Patients in Southern West Virginia will benefit from the use of a new robotic-assisted technology to biopsy potential lung cancer tumors earlier than traditional diagnostic tests allow. Physicians performed the first cases last week at WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals using the Ion® by Intuitive (Ion) making it the first hospital in the region to use the robotic system for minimally invasive lung biopsy.

The Ion allows specialists to see inside the lungs, collect a tissue sample for biopsy and enable earlier, more accurate diagnosis of small and difficult-to-reach areas in the periphery of the lung.

“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States,” Greg Rosencrance, M.D., FACP, president and CEO of Thomas Hospitals, said. “We know that to be true in West Virginia and this new technology will allow physicians to detect cancer sooner, which will benefit patients and potentially save lives.”

Guided by the physician, the robot uses a pre-planned navigation path to help guide an ultra-thin catheter to a growth in the lung that appears on a CT scan.

The first cases at Thomas were performed by Dr. Phillip Cox and Dr. Tom Takubo of Pulmonary Associates of Charleston.

“This robotic tool is the most advanced and innovative technology for lung biopsy that the health care industry offers,” Takubo said. “Earlier diagnosis in a minimally-invasive fashion can lead to less complications for patients and an increased survival rate.”

Many patients currently require multiple biopsies prior to lung cancer diagnosis, which can add months to a patient’s journey to care. One goal in designing Ion was to help shorten the patient journey and time to diagnosis and treatment by making it possible to reach and biopsy difficult-to-reach nodules in the peripheral lung, where more than 70% of cancerous lung nodules may be located.

“Patients don’t have to wait for a nodule to grow to a size that can be biopsied which allows us to detect cancer sooner,” Cox said. “Additionally, this tool allows us to see areas of the lung that have previously been inaccessible.”

–THOMAS HEALTH–

Media Inquiries: Kristin Anderson, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, 304-766-73877, [email protected].