AHN Saint Vincent Hospital Advances Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Care with New Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy System

Innovative technology supports earlier diagnoses of lung cancer and improved outcomes for patients

ERIE, Pa. – Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Saint Vincent Hospital is now offering patients access to a robotic-assisted technology that helps physicians diagnose lung cancer at its earliest stages, when it is most curable. Using the Ion endoluminal system, interventional pulmonologists within the AHN Medicine Institute at Saint Vincent began performing minimally invasive lung biopsy procedures earlier this year.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. In the U.S., the average five-year survival rate for all stages of non-small cell lung cancer (the most common form) is approximately 26 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Doctors recommend a biopsy to confirm a lung cancer diagnosis. When the suspected cancer is located deep in the peripheral lung, traditional biopsy methods often prohibit effective navigation through narrow airways to reach the affected nodules. As a result, many patients receive a lung cancer diagnosis after it has already spread beyond the initial tumor to other parts of the body, says Kiet Ma, DO, interventional pulmonologist at Saint Vincent.

“Early detection is key to giving patients their very best chance of a good outcome,” said Dr. Ma. “The Ion technology affords us a faster, more efficient path to diagnosis, while sparing patients from undergoing potentially multiple invasive biopsy procedures which can delay the time to treatment.”

By guiding Ion’s ultra-thin robotic catheter into a patient’s lung through the mouth and throat, physicians can navigate to small nodules within the peripheral lung based on a pre-planned path. The Ion’s 3D imaging and real-time data enable easier navigation and more precise biopsies, leading to more accurate diagnoses and rapid, effective interventions as needed.

Developed by Intuitive Surgical, the Ion system was first deployed at AHN’s Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh in 2021. AHN Saint Vincent is the first hospital in the Erie region to use the Ion.

“This amazing technology is another terrific example of the investments AHN and Highmark Health continue to make in Saint Vincent’s capabilities,” said Chris Clark, DO, MHA, president, AHN Saint Vincent. “Providing greater access to novel solutions that help patients get the accurate, timely answers they need to determine their best path to recovery and wellness is what our unique Living Health model is all about.”

Most people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 or older, with less frequent occurrence in those younger than 45. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly screening for lung cancer with a low-dose CT scan for people ages 50 to 80 years who smoke or used to smoke and have at least a 20 pack-year history of smoking. To determine eligibility for a screening, patients should discuss with their primary care or family medicine physician.

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