Lung cancer diagnostic tool can be used safely in elderly people to make a more accurate diagnosis

Lung cancer diagnostic tool can be used safely in elderly people to make a more accurate diagnosis -

Lung cancer diagnostic tool proven safe and effective for patientsa former Manchester recent study found that a procedure to collect tissue samples from lung cancer patients can be safely used in the elderly -. allowing physicians to make more accurate diagnoses and choose the appropriate treatment

half of all lung cancer patients are older than 70 when first diagnosed, but studies have shown these older patients are less likely to receive an accurate diagnosis

a proper assessment of the stage of the disease a patient -. how their tumor has grown and spread - is the key to ensure they receive the right treatment

non-invasive methods to check whether a patient's cancer has spread to their lymph nodes sensitivity and limited until recently, the only way to get a tissue sample was under general anesthesia -. limit the use in elderly patients who often have other conditions that may limit the use of general anesthesia

Now, researchers at the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust and University Manchester -. part of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre - will be explored a new technique: endobronchial transbronchial aspiration guided needle ultrasound (EBUS-TBNA). This method is carried out under sedation while the patient is conscious and uses ultrasound to guide a sampling needle downwardly through the airways of the lungs.

Dr. Richard Booton, Consultant Respiratory Physician at the North West Lung Centre and lecturer at the Institute of the University of inflammation and repair that conducted the study, said: " We wanted to see if there were differences between patients aged under 70 and those over 70, in terms of safety technology. and how it was useful for diagnosis

" the team recently published their findings in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology and found that the procedure was well tolerated at all ages - even in elderly patients over 80 years. They also showed that EBUS-TBNA is effective for determining whether a patient's tumor had spread to lymph nodes.

"To be able to safely take tissue samples will also allow us to test for sub-specific tumor types and better determine the most appropriate treatment for each patient," said Dr. Booton .