New Endobronchial ultrasound machine to improve lung cancer diagnostics and care
Queen Elizabeth Hospital now has a specialist lung cancer diagnosis machine, which means our patients will no longer have to travel to Guy’s and St Thomas’ for the procedure.
The new piece of equipment, an Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), is a minimally invasive but highly effective procedure used to diagnose lung cancer and other diseases. The procedure can both diagnose the type of lung cancer and accurately stage the disease.
The EBUS is a small camera with a specialised ultrasound tip, which allows doctors to see the lymph nodes (glands) in the centre of the chest. The physicians are then able to take samples from the lymph nodes and send them to the laboratory to look for any abnormalities.
The Respiratory Team at QEH said: “Having the EBUS ultrasound machine at QEH will greatly improve patient care as well as helping us meet our cancer targets.
“Not only will we be able to diagnose patients in a more timely manner, but our patients will no longer have to travel all the way to Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital to undergo the procedure.”
The machine cost £250,000 and was funded by the South East London Accountable Cancer Network.
