To determine the stage of lung cancers a minimally invasive tool called Endobronchial Ultrasound Biopsy (EBUS) or endobronchial ultrasound. While the patient is sedated, usually under general anesthesia, a thin, lit and flexible scope fitted with an ultrasound device at its tip is inserted into the mouth, passed down the windpipe and into the chest to identify real-time images.
Endobronchial Ultrasound Biopsy (EBUS) allows physicians to view the airways, lungs and, most importantly, biopsy lymph nodes without the need for surgery – no incisions at all. This sophisticated technology makes a dramatic difference in treatment planning and improves patient outcomes by enabling treating physicians to determine the stage of cancer quickly and accurately.