Early detection and diagnosis key to survivability
The research being carried out at Radboudumc focuses on the diagnosis of early-stage lung cancer lesions, typically detected during routine screening of high-risk patient groups or discovered and reported as so-called ‘incidental findings’ when a patient has a chest scan for some other reason. A tissue sample typically then needs to be obtained that a pathologist can use to make a definitive diagnosis.
Challenging for clinicians to accurately navigate
A new method is image-guided endobronchial lung biopsy, during which a clinician uses live image guidance to maneuver through the airways in the lungs to advance a catheter towards the lesion. However, the airways in the lungs are a complex network that requires accurate navigation to remove the required tissue sample. Until now, image-guided endobronchial lung biopsy has only really been effective when an abnormality or tumor is located in or near one of the larger airways in the lungs, and even then it is challenging for clinicians to accurately navigate when looking at a 2D greyscale fluoroscopy image while the lungs are moving as the patient breathes.
Philips Lung Suite enables all-in-one lung cancer diagnosis and treatment. It provides advanced real-time 3D imaging with augmented fluoroscopy on the company’s Image Guided Therapy System – Azurion, combined with dedicated software. With Philips’ Cone Beam CT imaging, the X-ray detector rotates around the patient to generate a CT-like image in around 5 seconds, providing clinicians with a high-resolution 3D view of the target lesion and other anatomical structures. This allows the clinician performing the biopsy procedure to be continually guided by high-quality real-time imaging to advance a catheter towards the lesion through a bronchoscope. Once done, its position can be confirmed in real-time using the same imaging modality and a biopsy sample removed.
Philips has a comprehensive portfolio of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment solutions. In addition to Philips Lung Suite, the company’s Lung Cancer Orchestrator provides an integrated lung cancer patient management system for both CT lung screening programs and incidental pulmonary findings programs that manages and monitors patients every step of the way in their lung cancer screening and treatment decision journey.
About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2020 sales of EUR 17.3 billion and employs approximately 77,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries.
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