MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

Interventional Pulmonology offers minimally invasive diagnostic, therapeutic and palliative procedures in patients with pulmonary nodules, lung cancer, airways malignancies, benign airways disease, pleural disease and complicated asthma. 

Our comprehensive program includes:

• Advanced Diagnostic Bronchoscopy
• Therapeutic Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology Treatment

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a pulmonary specialist, please call our scheduling line or use the online request form below. 

202-295-0552

Request an Appointment

Advanced Diagnostic Bronchoscopy

• Electromagnetic navigation diagnostic bronchoscopy (Super D)
• Convex probe endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)
• Peripheral endobronchial ultrasound (RP-EBUS)
• Airway ultrasound (RP-EBUS)
• Fluoroscopy
• Ion™ robotic-assisted brochoscopic biopsy

Early detection of lung cancer saves lives.

Ask your physician about our Ion™ robotic-assisted brochoscopic biopsy.

MedStar Georgetown is the only hospital in the region to offer the Ion robotic-assisted system – a next-level, diagnostic bronchoscopy. This innovative minimally invasive technology allows your physician to reach all segments of the lung, including hard-to-reach and very small nodules in the periphery. Ion bronchoscopic biopsies are advanced because they offer unparalleled:

• Reach: its ultra-thin catheter and integrated vision probe provide the physician direct access and visibility into all parts of the lungs.
• Precision: the shape-sensing technology provides precise location and shape information throughout the biopsy process. The system holds the catheter in place for precise placement of biopsy tools.
• Flexibility: the catheter can move 180° in all directions with a highly flexible biopsy probe.

How do I know if I need a biopsy?

Lungs have no pain fibers. This means you won’t know you have a lung nodule or if you are at risk until it has advanced outside the chest into an area that causes discomfort or blocked airways. Screening is how you can detect the cancer early. If very small cancerous nodules (1 cm in size) are caught early, before they grow, the survival rate is 90%.

Screening with a low-dose CT scan is non-invasive. The brief procedure captures detailed images of your lungs. If your physician sees small masses of tissue called nodules, a biopsy may be recommended.

Learn more about a low-dose CT scan at MedStarHealth.org/SafeLungScan.

If the following criteria applies, a low-dose CT scan may be right for you:

• Between ages 55 and 80
• Smoking history equal to smoking a pack of cigarettes per day for 30 years, or smoking two packs a day for 15 years as an example
• Current smoker or quit smoking less than 15 years ago

What will I experience if I have an Ion robotic-assisted biopsy?

The outpatient procedure lasts about 90 minutes. You will be under general anesthesia for the procedure, and you will feel no pain. The entire hospital stay should last about 5 hours. For about a day, you may feel drowsy from the anesthesia and experience a slightly sore or hoarse throat or cough up a few streaks of blood. There is a 1-2% chance of pneumothorax from the biopsy procedure which may require hospitalization overnight.

The reach and precision of this procedure means a better chance of obtaining enough tissue for a definitive diagnosis, which may reduce the need for subsequent biopsies.

What’s my next step?

If you meet the criteria from MedStarHealth.org/SafeLungScan for a lung cancer screening, talk with your physician about scheduling an appointment. To schedule an appointment with our lung cancer screening nurse, please call 202-444-2132.

If a lung nodule has been found on your CT scan, please call 202-444-1175 for a consultation with one of our interventional pulmonologists.

Why choose us?

You will have access to our comprehensive multidisciplinary thoracic oncology program. Within a trusting and compassionate environment, our skilled interventional pulmonologists will use the latest technology to benefit our patients with lung nodules and thoracic malignancies

Therapeutic Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology Treatment

Central Airway Disease

• Rigid bronchoscopy
• Balloon bronchoscopy
• Argon plasma coagulation
• Cryotherapy
• Endobronchial electrosurgery 
• Endobronchial mitomycin-C to delay airway restenosis
• Endobronchial steroid injection for inflammatory diseases
• Foreign body removal 
• Stent placement (i.e. hybrid and silicone stents) 
• Stent removal/surveillance
• Fiducial placement for CyberKnife Therapy

Pleural Disease

• Medical thoracoscopy, pleural biopsies, diagnosis and management of recurrent pleural effusions
• Pleurodesis via talc clurry and poudrage
• Tunneled pleural catheter
• Thoracentesis +/- thoracic ultrasound guidance

Lung Cancer

• Multidisciplinary thoracic clinic at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, CyberKnife Lung Clinic and CT Lung Cancer Screening Program

Watch the video below as Dr. Eric Anderson answers commonly asked questions about lung cancer, including CyberKnife advantages. 

Advanced or Complex Cases of Asthma

• Bronchial thermoplasty, a safe outpatient bronchoscopy procedure that uses mild heat to reduce excessive smooth muscle in the airways, which helps reduce severe asthma attacks.

Additional Procedures

• Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy