Finding lung cancer earlier can significantly change a patient’s treatment options and outcomes. Mohamed El Zaeedi, M.D., a thoracic surgeon at Memorial Healthcare System, is using advanced robotic technology to help turn earlier detection into earlier treatment.
Robotic bronchoscopy enables Dr. El Zaeedi and his colleagues to target and biopsy very small lung nodules, while robotic-assisted surgery can allow for minimally invasive, lung-preserving procedures when appropriate. Memorial’s Incidental Pulmonary Nodule program also helps identify and follow concerning nodules discovered unexpectedly during imaging for other conditions.
“The goal is to make sure potentially concerning nodules do not fall through the cracks,” Dr. El Zaeedi said.
Looking ahead, he sees the integration of advanced technology with multidisciplinary expertise as key to increasingly personalized cancer care. Memorial specialists meet weekly to evaluate cases and determine how imaging, surgery, molecular testing, targeted therapies and immunotherapy can best come together for each patient.
