CentraState Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System, said Wednesday it is adding the Ion endoluminal system, a robotic bronchoscopy platform for minimally invasive peripheral lung biopsy, a significant step forward in early lung cancer detection and diagnosis.
This technology allows pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons performing biopsies using a shape-sensing catheter system to navigate with greater accuracy to reach inside the lungs with more precision and stability for early diagnosis of lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. In 2022, 608,366 people died of cancer in the U.S., according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“When it comes to lung cancer, time to intervention is critical. This cutting-edge technology makes it possible to biopsy small, difficult-to-reach nodules in the peripheral lung while reducing risks of biopsy related complications,” said Dr. Alexander Itskovich, medical director, Statesir Cancer Center at CentraState.
Ion is designed to address a challenging aspect of lung biopsy by enabling physicians to gather tissue samples from deep within the lung. The Ion system features an ultra-thin, very maneuverable catheter that allows navigation far into the peripheral lung and greater stability enables increased biopsy precision compared with manual techniques.
With the addition of the Ion system and CentraState’s low-dose CT lung cancer screening program, physicians can now detect, monitor, and biopsy suspicious lung nodules in high-risk patients—even those located in hard-to-reach areas of the lungs—leading to earlier diagnosis. Individuals who are current or former heavy smokers are considered high-risk and may be eligible for the screening program.
“The ability to reach deeper into the lung with greater stability and control is a game-changer in identifying potentially cancerous nodules at an earlier stage,” added Rajagopalan Rengan, advanced bronchoscopist, pulmonary and critical care specialist at CentraState Medical Center, a lead physician utilizing the Ion platform. “This technology paired with our screening program significantly enhances our ability to diagnose lung cancer sooner, which can ultimately improve patient outcomes.”
CentraState Healthcare System, a partner of Atlantic Health System, is a not-for-profit, community-based health system that provides health services in Central New Jersey.
