New technology helps doctors reach hard-to-access lung areas

Michael McGurran / WDAY By Michael McGurran Today at 10:26 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? FARGO — November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and at Essentia Health in Fargo, technology is helping doctors detect the disease earlier by reaching areas of the lungs once difficult to access. It's called Ion robotic bronchoscopy. It uses a patient's CT scan to create a three-dimensional map of their lungs. ADVERTISEMENT Doctors then guide a robotic scope through the airways to reach suspicious nodules and collect tissue samples. The technology can reach areas traditional scopes can't, helping doctors diagnose lung cancer earlier. "Once you go down into the lungs, you can't really see exactly where you're going, so the software will tell us exactly where to go," said Dr. Muhammad Asad Faruqi, a pulmonologist at Essentia Health. Doctors stress this technology isn't a substitute for routine screening. They recommend annual low-dose CT scans for people 50 to 80 with a significant smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years. READ MORE BY MICHAEL MCGURRAN North Dakota resists national 'blue wave' 52m ago Horace voters shorten fireworks season to 3 days 1d ago Kupec likely to request recount, but answers in tight Minnesota Senate race still weeks out 1d ago Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags ESSENTIA HEALTH HEALTH FARGO By Michael McGurran Mike McGurran has been a reporter and anchor at WDAY-TV since 2021. Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Health Sanford Fargo earns highest neonatal care designation 1d ago · By Matthew Freeman Breaking News North Dakota 'Definitive agreement' signed, pushing forward Altru's plan to acquire Bismarck hospital and 2 others 1d ago · By Korrie Wenzel Health North Dakota childhood vaccination rates continue slide 1d ago · By Michael Standaert ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads Pro Carson Wentz will start for Vikings against Bills 9h ago · By Dane Mizutani / St. Paul Pioneer Press Moorhead 'Our faith is in action': Moorhead church provides kits for those preparing for winter 4h ago · By Kevin Wallevand Arts and Entertainment Guitar invention puts more music in your hands 11h ago · By Tracy Briggs Business Lotus Blossom Asian grocery has closed in Fargo 16h ago · By Stephanie Dickerson