Dr. Yoneda on Advances in the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer

Ken Y. Yoneda, MD, associate professor of internal medicine, pulmonary and critical care, University of California Davis Cancer Center, discusses recent advances in diagnosing lung cancer for both the radiologist and pulmonologist.

Yoneda describes screening for lung cancer using computed tomography (CT) as a huge breakthrough, but he feels that several things about the process, including cost-benefit analysis, still need to be worked out before it is fully implemented by radiologists. He references a study presented by Denise Aberle, MD, from UCLA, at the 10th International Lung Cancer Congress, August 11-14, 2011, that looked at implementing CT Screening for Early Detection of Lung Cancer.

Pulmonologists have many new tools including the use of endobronchial ultrasound, CT navigation, and electromagnetic navigation, Yoneda explains. These approaches provide more reliable access to peripheral lesions and lymph nodes.