Press Releases

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and UC Health’s UC Cancer Center is now offering robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB), a new quicker and more accurate way to diagnose lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., causing more deaths than colon, breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer combined. Any patient with a suspicious lung nodule that needs diagnosis can benefit from robotic-assisted bronchoscopy

“At the UC Cancer Center, we understand the power of innovation and are at the forefront of both treatment and research. The robotic-assisted bronchoscopy platform will allow us to provide not only diagnostic procedures, but the promise of therapeutic options that could potentially mean a patient gets a diagnosis and treatment at the same session,” said Alejandro Adolfo Aragaki-Nakahodo, MD, director of interventional pulmonology at UC Health and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Robotic bronchoscopy also provides greater accuracy – between 80-85% – than traditional methods. Inserted through an endotracheal tube, the RAB platform consists of a long, thin tube called a bronchoscope, allowing interventional pulmonology specialists to view the inside of the airways in order to determine the presence of cancer. Since the platform is robotically controlled, the procedure is minimally invasive and much faster, which can lead to fewer complications and minimize a patient’s time spent in surgery.

The UC Cancer Center is the only cancer program in the region with board-certified interventional pulmonology specialists that can use the RAB technology for a more accurate diagnosis, leading to better outcomes for patients.

“Our streamlined approach to lung nodule detection and treatment not only includes the pioneering interventional pulmonology program, but also our multidisciplinary specialties for thoracic oncology, including radiology, pathology, oncology, radiation oncology and thoracic surgery programs,” said Aragaki-Nakahodo. “We provide hope to our patients by offering the best technology and the best medical expertise to develop a personalized diagnostic and treatment plan. Whatever our patients need, we will provide.”

Patients can schedule an appointment at the UC Cancer Center by calling 513-558-2177.