A Real-time Roadmap of Your Lungs
Sarah Warburton

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, among both men and women. “Lung cancer claims more lives each year than do colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancers combined,” says board-certified pulmonologist, Dr. J. Georges Youssef, “because of the difficulty of early detection. Recently,The National Cancer Institute sponsored a randomized phase III National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) , for the first time, proving that low dose CT Scan(LDCT) screening can reduce lung cancer–specific mortality by 21% .

Annual lung cancer screening and surveillance with LDCT is recommended for smokers and former smokers with a 30 pack-year history of smoking and long-term lung cancer survivors aged 55 to 79 years. Screening may begin at age 50 years with a 20 pack-year history of smoking and additional comorbidity that produces a cumulative risk of developing lung cancer of 5% or greater over the following 5 years.

If we find a nodule or a lymph node, the next question is what to do about it. Thanks to new technology, Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy (ENB) and Ultrasound Guided Bronchoscopy , we can better locate, test, and plan treatment for small lung lesions not reachable through traditional bronchoscopy procedures. This technology save lives!”

Imagine your lungs as an ever-narrowing series of branching roads. A traditional bronchoscope can only go down the larger paths. ENB allows Dr. Youssef to use GPS-style electronic navigation to reach even the outermost areas safely. He says, “The ENB offers minimally-invasive access to distant tumors…even in some of the most outer regions of the lung and smaller bronchi. The virtual navigation allows me to follow each tiny pathway, so that we get exactly where we need to be.”

Getting eyes on the inside is only part of the appeal of the ENB and EBUS. These systems not only allow Dr. Youssef to see the nodule or the Lymph node, he can reach it with tools. He says, “If a nodule is suspicious, even if it is small, we can now biopsy it in a way that wasn’t easily possible before.

“ENB and EBUS can be used with a broad group of patients, even some with reduced lung function who are not suitable for other surgical techniques. Most patients treated with ENB are outpatients and go home the same day with minimal discomfort… it truly is a minimally-invasive way to see into the deepest reaches of your lungs.”

Early detection by LDCT does save lives..and the ENB/ EBUS offer the least invasive and best diagnostic tools possible for lung cancer. Board-certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Sleep Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine, Dr. Youssef is always searching for the best ways to improve your life by helping you breathe easy again.

J. Georges Youssef, M.D.
713-781-4600
1429 Hwy. 6 South, Ste 303
Sugar Land, TX 77478