NCC successfully applies robotic bronchoscopy to clinical practice

The National Cancer Center (NCC) announced on Wednesday that it has been using robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) in actual patient care since August 20, completing three procedures to date.

The NCC stated that the robotic bronchoscopy, utilizing state-of-the-art bronchoscopy equipment, enabled the stable insertion of a 3.5mm-diameter endoscope deep into the lungs. This allows precise access to lesions that were previously difficult to reach. It emphasized that the robotic-assisted technology enables precise control of the endoscope, facilitating the early diagnosis of small lesions.

The NCC performed two robotic bronchoscopy procedures on Aug. 20 and one on Aug. 22.

As a result, one patient was diagnosed with a pulmonary nodule caused by non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection, one with lung adenocarcinoma, and another with two separate lung adenocarcinoma lesions. The NCC stated that robotic bronchoscopy enables precise diagnoses that are difficult with conventional tests, playing a crucial role in establishing patient treatment plans.

“Robotic bronchoscopy allows for precise diagnosis without constraints on lesion location,” Professor Hwangbo Bin of the Department of Respiratory Medicine said. “It will be an effective approach for lesions that were difficult to diagnose with existing tests or could only be confirmed through surgery.”

Professor Chung Hyun-sung of the Department of Respiratory Medicine noted, “Robotic bronchoscopy has high utility in various clinical situations, such as determining the scope of surgery for small lung cancers, coordinating with radiation therapy, and diagnosing metastatic lung cancer,” adding, “We will further establish its value through systematic research.”