Radboud university medical center takes new step towards treatment of early lung cancer with robot assisted bronchoscopy  Research into the effectiveness of new technology

Radboud university medical center is the first hospital in the European Union to start research into the effectiveness of robot assisted bronchoscopy for patients with early-stage lung cancer. The robot helps the doctor in the diagnosis and treatment of small abnormalities that lie deep in the lung.  

Pulmonologist Erik van der Heijden performs navigation bronchoscopy at Radboud university medical center. In this procedure, he uses advanced imaging during the procedure. In recent years, this procedure has been further developed and refined, partly under his leadership. From 1 January 2024, navigation bronchoscopy has been included as a recognised method and will be covered in the basic package of health insurers. This technique is used in patients to better, and more safely reach small abnormalities located deep in the lung. This allows the doctor to remove a piece of the lung with much more precision than before. Radboud university medical center currently trains colleagues in other Dutch hospitals and supports them with the implementation and application of these technologies. This has been made possible with a grant from the Dutch Cancer Society.   

Erik van der Heijden, Professor of Interventional Pulmonology: 'In this new study, we investigate the effectiveness of robot assisted bronchoscopy in combination with current advanced imaging technology. We make a personal 'roadmap' for each patient of the airway branches that lead to the abnormality in the lung. The doctor controls this 'robotic bronchoscope'. With the help of sensitive technology, the flexibility and controllability of this bronchoscope, we can now reach the finest airway branches, deep in the lung. We expect this method to be even better and more precise than the current method, but we want to investigate that.'  

Surplus value

In this study, Van der Heijden and his colleagues want to investigate the safety and added value for the patient. They compare the results with identical procedures of the navigation bronchoscopy without the use of the robot. They also want to find out very precisely whether the use of this technology translates into benefits for the Dutch healthcare system, such as a faster procedure, shorter learning curve and better accessibility. Finally, they look at cost-effectiveness, if the procedure can be used optimally.   

Why is this important?

Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadliest form of cancer. Every year, more than 14,000 new patients are diagnosed in the Netherlands every year. Curation is possible when found at an early stage of the disease. However, an incipient tumor often does not cause any complaints, and is currently only discovered by chance. For example, if for another reason a CT-scan is made in which the lungs come into view. The number of scans is increasing, and as a result, doctors are finding abnormalities more and more often. The European Union advises member states to start screening people at increased risk of lung cancer. Several Member States have started to do so. The expectation is that the Netherlands will soon follow, but this will also lead to the discovery of more new patients with an early stage of lung cancer. This will greatly increase the demand for a reliable and safe form of diagnostics.

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