RARITAN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — Hunterdon Health has expanded its lung cancer care with the addition of the Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy System, a technology designed to improve detection and treatment of the disease, officials announced.
According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States. The Ion system, developed by Intuitive, uses robotic-assisted bronchoscopy that can reach all 18 segments of the lungs with an ultra-thin, maneuverable catheter. The technology provides enhanced reach, stability, and precision compared with previous manual approaches, allowing physicians to biopsy and stage multiple nodules in a single procedure.
“We are so pleased to bring this new technology to our patients. For our lung cancer patients, time to intervention is critical. We now are able to biopsy these cancerous nodules that can be as small as a pea, so we can begin treatment sooner,” stated Shrey Shah, M.D., Pulmonologist, Hunterdon Pulmonary and Critical Care, a specialty practice operated by Hunterdon Health. Dr. Shah, along with Oleksandr Pistun, M.D., are performing these procedures at Hunterdon Medical Center.
Patients undergoing the procedure first receive a 3D CT scan to locate suspicious nodules. Using the Ion system, pulmonologists map the care plan, navigate to the targeted area, and collect samples for analysis. Officials said patients typically go home the same day.
Early detection of lung cancer significantly improves patient outcomes, and the Ion system is designed to help Hunterdon Health physicians diagnose and treat the disease at earlier stages.
For more information, call Hunterdon Pulmonary and Critical Care at 908-237-4080.
