CHRISTUS Health achieves milestone procedure in Tyler for early lung cancer detection

CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler is celebrating the 500th successful procedure using the Intuitive Ion Robotic Bronchoscope, the newest state-of-the-art system for early detection of lung cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for about one in five of all deaths.

Dr. Michael Hunter, an interventional pulmonologist at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, said the Northeast Texas region has one of the highest rates of lung cancer in the country, emphasizing the need for early detection.

“With this technology, we are able to be more aggressive and catch things earlier, treat earlier and give patients a much better chance at a positive outcome,” he said.

During the procedure, a catheter is inserted through the patient’s mouth and throat, entering their lungs. The minimally invasive bronchoscopy reduces complications and allows physicians to get more precise biopsies of masses that were not previously accessible by traditional procedures while also minimizing the risks.

The catheter holds its place next to the nodule while a system needle obtains the tissue sample. After the biopsy, the tissue sample is sent to a pathologist to assess cancer cells, and results are provided to the surgical team within minutes.

Dr. Amaya Skabelund, interventional pulmonologist at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, said some ION procedures take as little as 20 minutes, allowing more patients to be seen and reducing recovery times.

“There used to be a ‘wait and watch’ method to lung cancer, as we did not have the technology to do what we can do now,” she said. “There is no more waiting or watching. Now we see it and we go get it.”