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Mercy San Juan Medical Center is the only Sacramento area hospital to use a new life-saving technology to reach previously inaccessible lesions deep in the lungs for the early detection of lung disease.
The superDimension® lung navigation system is a revolutionary technology, like GPS in your car, that enables surgeons to steer a small catheter through the mouth or nose, down the trachea and into the deepest areas of the lungs. The minimally invasive technology, called inReach®, can locate and biopsy lesions (or spots), which can then be analyzed and treated immediately if necessary. The ability to diagnose, stage and prepare to treat lung lesions in a single procedure improves the efficiency of care, enhances safety by eliminating multiple procedures and improves patient outcomes through early detection.
This outpatient procedure revolutionizes the treatment of lung cancer patients, enabling diagnosis of lung cancer at a much earlier stage than conventional techniques. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to survival rates in malignant lung disease. A recent study found lung lesions diagnosed early (Stage 1) resulted in a survival rate of 88 percent at 10 years, compared to lung cancer patients diagnosed at Stage III or IV, where survival rates typically are 15 percent at five years.
Specially trained thoracic surgeon Costanzo Di Perna, MD, has performed dozens of superDimension cases since January 2010, with close to 100 percent success in reaching the targeted lesion for biopsy.
For more information, call Mercy's lung and esophageal program at (916) 537-5327.
Learn more about electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy.
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