Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy Transforming Lung Cancer Detection at Doctor’s Medical Center

Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, Calif., is harnessing robotic, non-invasive technology to perform biopsies of hard-to-reach lesions in the lungs and remove suspected tumors. The Ion robotic system reaches deep into lungs – where 70% of lung cancer may be located – compared to traditional methods that reach only 20-30%. The system can contribute to the accuracy of biopsies and can cut out cancerous tumors before they can grow larger.

The Ion’s computer takes 3-D images within patient lungs and then maps the location of suspect lesions. Physicians can navigate the scope with a camera tip via bronchial tubes to capture and remove the potential cancer. 

This technology’s precision and non-invasive aspects are especially important to the outcomes. The robotic system conveys to the surgeon how far the scope is from the lesion and from parts of the lung that could be vulnerable to the scope. Once identified, the surgeon can leave a marker on the legion so it’s easier to remove – also with the Ion robot.

The advancement is especially significant to the DMC service area. Stanislaus County is in the second-worst tier for lung cancer incidence among California counties. The incidence rate, between 28.3 and 32.2 per 100,000 residents, is higher than in neighboring San Joaquin and Merced counties. Tobacco use was still up to 17% of adult Stanislaus County residents since 2015, which is 47% higher than California’s rate, according to a Community Health Assessment for 2020. Additionally, lung cancer mortality remains the highest compared to other deadly cancers in Stanislaus County, according to the California Department of Public Health. 

Doctors Medical Center, part of the Central Valley Doctors Health System, is the largest full-care hospital between Stockton and Fresno, and from the Sierras to the San Francisco Bay Area, with a 394-bed general acute care and a 67-bed inpatient psychiatric capacity. DMC is known for providing comprehensive inpatient, outpatient and emergency care. Doctors Medical Center offers a wide range of services.