John Muir Health System in Walnut Creek has purchased new equipment that helps diagnose and stage lung cancer without incisions for a biopsy.

The technology, endobronchial ultrasound, an ultrasound-guided biopsy that results in diagnosis and staging of lung and other thoracic cancers. Officials at John Muir Health System say they are the first hospital in Northern California to obtain the equipment.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in America, more than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined. More than 160,000 people die each year from the disease. But early detection and aggressive multi-modality treatment is key to a cure.

Confirming a tumor in the lymph nodes has been done with a biopsy through a variety of surgical procedures. With the EBUS system, biopsies are performed through the trachea using ultrasound rather than surgical incisions. The level of sedation is less compared with more invasive procedures. In many cases, a preliminary pathology report is available at the completion of the EBUS procedure.
Performed by thoracic surgeons and pulmonologists, the EBUS is a bronchoscopic evaluation of the windpipe (trachea) and airways (bronchi). The ultrasound tip allows physicians to see through the wall of the airways and locate abnormal lymph nodes.

A biopsy needle is passed under constant guidance of the ultrasound image into the abnormal node, and a sample is obtained. Several nodes can be biopsied during the same procedure.

—By Troy May

Posted on December 4, 2006 06:10 AM