HJNO Jul/Aug 2019

46 JUL / AUG 2019 I  Healthcare Journal of new orleans column ONCOLOGY Bronchoscopy with Endobronchial Ultrasound: Diagnostic Improvements in Lung Cancer Greater than 90 percent of all lung cancers are classified as either small cell or non-small cell cancer. Distinguishing the particular type of cancer is important because different types of cancer require different forms of treatment. Also, the ap- proach to staging is different depending on what type of cancer is identified. Histori- cally, diagnosis and staging may have re- quired separate invasive procedures. Stag- ing is also performed with the assistance of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, which has the potential for false positive and false negative results. In the past few years, the use of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) has emerged as a ben- eficial tool to assist with the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Bronchoscopy is an endoscopic pro- cedure where an optic scope is entered into the airway. Samples can be taken via washings, brushings, and forceps biopsies. These techniques have assisted in the di- agnosis of lung cancer, but until the recent In the United States, lung cancer ranks first in cancer-related deaths in both men and women. Despite novel treat- ments and the development of screen- ing programs for early detection, mor- bidity and mortality remain high. Along with advancements in treatment and de- tection, progress is being made in the techniques used to diagnose and stage lung cancer.