UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital has become the first hospital in Cedar Rapids to deploy ERBECRYO 2 cryobiopsy technology, which helps physicians obtain higher-quality tissue samples for lung cancer diagnoses.
According to a news release, the technology works in conjunction with the hospital’s existing ION robotic bronchoscopy system. The robotic system allows pulmonologists to navigate into the small airways of the lung, and the ERBECRYO 2 probe then rapidly freezes tissue to its tip so it can be removed as a single, preserved sample.
“Accurate diagnosis begins with high-quality tissue,” said Dr. Hamad Azam, a pulmonologist with UnityPoint Clinic. “The ERBECRYO 2 system gives us larger, cleaner and more complete samples than standard biopsy tools. This improves our ability to diagnose lung cancer early and guide personalized treatment plans.”
The cryobiopsy technology is particularly useful for reaching lesions in hard-to-access areas of the lung, according to the hospital.
The ERBECRYO 2 system also can be used to remove blood clots, diseased or infected tissue, and tumors that obstruct lung airways.
