Lung tumor technology upgraded at local center here
The HealthCenter, a part of Northwest Healthcare in Kalispell, is the first facility in Montana to offer new technology for diagnosis and an earlier treatment plan for patients with tumors of the lung.
A press release said that until now doctors were able to probe only in the easy-to-reach areas of the lung. Moving deeper into the hard-to-reach regions was not an option without the ability to see into those areas through surgical instruments. The risk of damaging delicate but healthy tissue was too great.
Called Electromagnetic Navigational Bronchoscopy, this new technology serves as a virtual guidance system, transforming an existing CT scan of the lung into a three-dimensional road map. It helps guide instruments deep into the hard-to-reach areas where two-thirds of all lung lesions lie.
“It’s kind of like having a GPS unit to get to any destination in the lungs,” said Dr. Timothy Obermiller, a pulmonologist with Rocky Mountain Heart & Lung. “The GPS tool helps us avoid tissue damage while exploring every area of potentially diseased lungs.”
The technology allows doctors to navigate into areas of the lung impossible to reach with standard bronchoscopy.
Instruments are navigated beyond the bronchoscope precisely to the target area for biopsy. An earlier diagnosis and treatment plan is possible as a result of this minimally-invasive outpatient procedure.
Earlier diagnosis offers hope.
Electromagnetic Navigational Bronchoscopy also offers another first at The HealthCenter. Doctors now have the ability to place “markers” at the precise site of diseased tissue that is detected as the guide navigates throughout the lung.
When radiation or other treatment is required later, it can be targeted to the exact spot. Deep-tissue markers also guide surgeons to the suspicious location so they can take tissue samples for lab analysis.
This helps avoid the need to remove large portions of lung tissue in favor of the ability to use narrowly-focused radiation on a small spot.