Leading The Way In Lung Cancer Diagnosis

When it comes to lung cancer, time is of the essence. It remains the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. If diagnosed after the onset of symptoms, it has only a 15 percent cure rate. However, a diagnosis early on, through methods such as low-dose CT screening and subsequent technologies, can make a significant difference in the patient’s outcome, with 85 percent of cancers found in stage 1.

Christian Hospital leads the way as the first community hospital in the St. Louis region to use two advanced technologies — endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and electromagnetic navigation developed by superDimension — to accurately diagnose lung cancer at the earliest stages.

Previously, diagnosing and staging lung cancer required more invasive surgical techniques that now can be performed with equal or greater accuracy with less discomfort to the patient. One method, EBUS, involves the insertion of a narrow tube with an ultrasound probe, known as a bronchoscope, through the mouth and into the airway. Not only can doctors visually examine lung lesions in real time, they can also perform needle aspirations to confirm whether a lesion is of concern or if it’s benign and needs no further attention.

Electromagnetic navigation, developed by superDimension, is a computer program that provides doctors with a detailed map of the lungs and guides the bronchoscope to the area of concern.

The probe can be advanced deep into the lungs and can reach areas that were once too far or too small to sample. Both bronchoscope innovations can be performed on an outpatient basis and offer patients a better experience.

“These advanced technologies of imaging and sampling tissue allow us to increase the probability of cure in a now very common illness. Early detection, safer diagnostic tools and more effective outcomes with treatments remain the goal of health care.” - Wm. Douglas Zweig, MD Pulmonologist, Christian Hospital

Christian Hospital always has one thing in mind: our patients. By utilizing the latest medical technology, we continue our commitment to providing state-of-the-art care to the community.

Saving Lives with Low-Dose CT

ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO:

• has smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 or more years?
• or has smoked two packs a day for 15 or more years?
• is over the age of 55?

It’s time to speak with your doctor about your risk of developing lung cancer.

Christian Hospital provides a safer, clearer and more effective way to screen for lung cancer through low-dose CT imaging technology. A low-dose CT uses one-sixth the radiation of a traditional scanner, greatly reducing any long-term effects of repetitive imaging. This technology also creates a more comprehensive image, allowing us to better detect the presence of cancerous cells.

Early detection dramatically increases the survival rate of lung cancer. Talk to your doctor today and see if low-dose CT scanning is right for you.

To learn more about EBUS and superD, or to schedule an appointment with a pulmonologist, call 314.747.WELL (9355).