Robotic technology helps diagnose lung cancer sooner
A thin tube guided by robotic-assisted technology could help people with suspected lung cancer get diagnosed and treated sooner, potentially saving lives.
A new NHS study, published in Thorax, shows that Ion, a robotic-assisted bronchoscopy system, helps doctors safely reach small spots or nodules deep inside the lung, in areas that traditional techniques often cannot access, and take tissue samples to check for cancer with high accuracy.
For patients, this could mean fewer anxious months waiting for repeat scans or unclear results, and a faster route to potentially life-saving treatment.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the UK, often because it is found too late. Around 49,000 people are diagnosed every year, and more than half at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited.
The study involved 200 NHS patients, many treated at St Bartholomew's Hospital.
Doctors reached and biopsied the target area in 99% of cases, delivering a confirmed diagnosis in 92% of patients.
The trial also featured patients at Royal Brompton Hospital.
Kelvin Lau, clinical director and consultant thoracic surgeon at St Bartholomew's, said using the Ion system represented a "paradigm shift" in the approach to lung cancer.
"My patients no longer need to wait months for a repeat scan. Instead, they have a biopsy, go home on the same day, and return to normal activities almost immediately, avoiding unnecessary operations and accessing the right treatment sooner."
Lung health screening is finding more small lung nodules earlier. But with current tools, some nodules are too small or too deep to reach, which can mean delays and added worry for patients. This new robotic system changes that. A thin, flexible tube can reach deep into the lung, allowing doctors to take samples more accurately and reducing the need for surgery.
Paula Chadwick, chief executive of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, said: "Too many people still face anxious months of uncertainty while waiting to find out if a small nodule is cancer. These findings show the real potential of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy to change that experience for patients."
St Bartholomew's Hospital is the UK’s largest robotic thoracic centre and carries out more than 500 robotic-assisted bronchoscopies and 400 robotic-assisted lung surgeries each year.
This research was supported by Barts Charity.
Pictured: Mr Lau using the Ion device during a simulation at St Bartholomew's Hospital; and a demonstration of the Ion device inside the lungs.
Read more