For the first time, lung cancer is being diagnosed more often at stage 1 rather than later stages at UC Davis.
A new state-of-the-art mobile 3D CT imaging system is catching lung cancer earlier by pinpointing potentially cancerous growths for more precise biopsies.
The Cios Spin device, made by Siemens Healthineers, is being paired with a breakthrough robotic-assisted bronchoscopy system called the Ion, made by Intuitive.
Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy allows doctors to precisely examine air passages with a controller that operates a small camera at the end of a flexible tube. The Cios Spin aids this advanced tool by using cone beam computed tomography (CT) to create real-time 3D images. The images automatically update to identify the best path to reach lung nodules or lesions.
“It’s similar to driving your car and using the GPS system to update your destination. In this case, we are using Cios Spin to update the exact location of the lung nodule biopsy,” said Chinh Phan, director of the UC Davis Health Interventional Pulmonary Program.
The Cios Spin continually transmits CT data to Ion throughout the procedure. This enables Phan to make fine adjustments in targeting the lung nodule for a more precise and safer biopsy.
Results show lung cancer is being caught earlier when it is more treatable
After a year of using the Cios Spin and Ion together, Phan said that for the first time, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is diagnosing more lung cancers at stage 1, when it is most easily treatable, in comparison to late-stage disease.
“The result of using these combined technologies that pair advanced CT imaging with robotic bronchoscopy is the transformation of lung cancer care for the patients in our community,” Phan said.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. An estimated 125,000 Americans will lose their lives to the devastating disease this year.
California has the lowest lung cancer screening rate in the country, which is one of the reasons the cancer center launched its new lung clinic and lung cancer screening program.
Enhancing the program are two new imaging technologies, the first to be deployed in the region: Advanced imaging helps catch lung cancer earlier, and another new imaging technology tracks the progress of lung cancer treatment.
