Lung cancer is a very serious affliction that has claimed many lives globally. Unfortunately, it is one of the leading causes of death from cancer and early detection is key for better outcomes in terms of treatment and survival. Before, it was an invasive process for which doctors had minimal tools and could be uncomfortable to the patients when trying to locate lung cancer. Many traditional methods were associated with complicated procedures that could have complications. But now, there is good news! This article reports on a new procedure for safer and easier diagnosis of lung cancer using non electrical snare (EBUS-TBNA).
EBUS-TBNA is great because it allows doctors to reach areas of the lungs they could not otherwise sample. This tool works in two ways, through endoscopy and ultrasound. Endoscopy: A test that uses a long, flexible tube with a camera that can be introduced through the mouth or nose to see the airways and lungs in great detail. This type of technology gives doctors access to parts of the body that are hard to reach. Ultrasound, on the other hand, produces images of the inside of the body using sound waves. EBUS-TBNA takes these two methods to a whole new level by combining them both into an extremely effective way to locate problems in the lung that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Transbronchial needle aspiration is another practice of EBUS-TBNA. This method enables doctors to perform a biopsy by removing small pieces of tissue from the lungs. Throughout the procedure, cells from the lesions or abnormal areas in your lungs are collected by a tiny needle that is passed through the endoscope. This is great news, as it will give doctors the right tools to diagnose and prescribe the proper treatment for their patients. The EBUS-TBNA procedure is also speedy and can be performed on an outpatient basis, avoiding hospital stays for the patient, a reassurance to most.
The major advantage of EBUS-TBNA is the integration of 2 vital procedures into one procedure) Previously, doctors frequently had to do as many as three procedures to see and then have samples examined from the spots they were worried about. Likewise, this may get tiring and very uncomfortable for the patient. EBUS-TBNA is the best way to do this as it includes an ultrasound revealing these lung spots and taking a sample at the same time. This saves time for both medical staff and the individual patients being treated, and allows for a quicker end to (and some relief from) any pain or discomfort associated with multiple treatments.
In the diagnosis of cancer, EBUS-TBNA is obviously a big leap. This is an easy, straightforward method for doctors to use in order to detect lung cancer early. This is supposed to further improve with new technology and increasing investigations, providing benefits for lung cancer patients. Significant advances have been made in this approach which makes it a promising tool for the detection and therapy of cancer.
We know from our research at GRIT, that by finding and treating lung cancer in its earliest stages is so important. It is for this reason that we utilize the finest tools and techniques at our disposal to assist our patients. With experienced doctors in diagnosing and treating lung cancer; they can provide a better way to perform the EBUS-TBNA test. I take my job seriously, am dedicated to treating and caring for our patients the best way we can and to help how they live their best life.