Dr. Ziad Boujaoude
Pulmonary Medicine
Cooper University Hospital
Camden, New Jersey
Patient Information: 59 y/o, M
Scan Protocol: Veran’s Inspiration/Expiration CT Scan Protocol
Nodule: RUL 21mm
Target Motion: 12mm
Biopsy Results: Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of Pancreatic Origin
Instruments Used: Always-On Tip Tracked® Forceps, Brush, & Needle
Conclusion: Chemotherapy
“This is a great example where Navigated Bronchoscopy was able to provide an adequate diagnosis, guide treatment plan, and avoid the patient undergoing unnecessary, invasive procedures and surgeries.”
Patient History
This 59 year-old male diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head was found to have a 21mm Ground Glass nodule in the RUL. The main question was whether this nodule represented a primary lung cancer or a solitary pulmonary metastasis. A tissue diagnosis was essential as the treatment and prognostic implications of the two scenarios are dramatically different. For instance, if the lung nodule is a primary lung cancer both primary cancers will be treated surgically with a potential of cure. Whereas if we are dealing with metastatic pancreatic cancer, the treatment will be chemotherapy with a much less favorable prognosis.
Planning
Dr. Boujaoude and fellow, Dr. Ghali, created a plan to target the 21mm RUL nodule using Veran’s SPiN Planning® software. The software automatically segmented the nodule and determined the optimal path to the target.
Procedure
The procedure started with navigation and with the Always-On Tip Tracked® forceps used to verify accuracy with a main and secondary carina check. Dr. Boujaoude successfully navigated to the 21mm RUL nodule to obtain multiple samples using the Always-On Tip Tracked® brush, serrated cup forceps, and 19ga histology needle. The samples were analyzed by ROSE and were found to be positive for Adenocarcinoma. Further comparison with the cells obtained from the pancreatic cancer confirmed the pancreatic origin of the Adenocarcinoma. The patient was started on systemic chemotherapy.
