Via Christi Completes 1,000th Robotic-Assisted Procedure for Early Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

Via Christi's Lung Nodule Clinic has completed 1,000 procedures using the Ion robotic-assisted system, making it the first hospital in Wichita and southcentral Kansas to reach this milestone in the early diagnosis of lung cancer.

"The Ion robot allows us to perform minimally invasive biopsies of hard to reach nodules at an early stage," said pulmonologist Abdel-Ghanie Abu-Samra, MD, medical co-director of Via Christi's Lung Nodule Clinic.

The Ion system accesses and biopsies nodules as small as 5-7 millimeters. In one procedure, physicians can take tissue samples and determine if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.

Dr. Abu-Samra added, "The procedure allows us to both diagnose and stage the patient, shortening the path to treatment."

In a single appointment at the Lung Nodule Clinic, located at Via Christi St. Francis, patients can meet with the full multidisciplinary team - pulmonology, oncology and surgical specialists - to get a diagnosis and personalized treatment plan. This innovative approach can end up saving a patient weeks or months compared to using traditional medical referrals.

Via Christi's comprehensive Lung Cancer Screening Program complements the clinic's work by detecting lung cancers at an earlier, more curable stage. Every year, several thousand patients are referred to the Lung Cancer Screening Program for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening if they meet age and smoking history criteria.

"Having a comprehensive lung screening program is helping us detect lung cancers early and at a potentially curable stage," says Keisha Humphries, Via Christi's director of Oncology and Pulmonary Services. "When we started the screening program, we saw larger numbers of late-stage cases, after the cancer had spread. We now see a larger percentage of early-stage cases, when the likelihood of successful treatment and survival is much greater."

Annual lung cancer screenings can reduce the lung cancer death rate by up to 20%, according to the American Lung Association.

"On many fronts, we're continuing to build upon our position as a regional Center of Excellence for treating lung cancer," said cardio-thoracic surgeon Brett Grizzell, MD, medical co-director of the Lung Nodule Clinic and medical director of the Lung Screening Program. He added, "The Ion platform is one part of Via Christi's commitment to early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. It is an essential tool in ensuring our patients achieve the best possible outcomes."