Interventional pulmonology
Penn Medicine’s interventional pulmonology experts are leaders in using minimally invasive techniques to screen for, diagnose, and treat even the most serious lung diseases. They work with surgeons and other specialists to help you get care sooner.
Sophisticated procedures for difficult pulmonary conditions
Interventional pulmonology uses minimally invasive, high-tech procedures to help diagnose lung conditions like lung nodules, lung cancer, enlarged lymph nodes, sarcoidosis, various lung infections, central airway disorders, and other diseases. These pulmonary procedures serve as an alternative to more invasive tests like surgical biopsies, and many times they can be scheduled within days of a referral. Our goal is to provide you with an early, accurate diagnosis so that you can take the next step in your care as quickly as possible.
Our interventional pulmonary team can perform complicated procedures for blocked airways from cancerous or non-cancerous conditions utilizing airway stenting combined with other therapeutic tools to open the airways and improve your breathing. Most of these procedures are performed in an operating room with anesthesia as an outpatient, so you can go home the same day. In addition, our experts can place valves for COPD patients to improve their breathing and function.
Throughout the process, our experts collaborate with specialists in other areas, including thoracic surgery, medical oncology, and radiation oncology to create a customized treatment plan and provide you with seamless care. Our patient navigators can help guide you through each step by coordinating your appointments and providing support.
Conditions we diagnose or treat
Pioneers in interventional pulmonology
Penn Medicine interventional pulmonology is one of the longest running programs of its kind in the country. With decades of experience, our interventional pulmonologists and nurse practitioners are dedicated to delivering compassionate and holistic care.
Our specialists care for thousands of people every year and take an innovative approach to your pulmonary care. We offer many procedures that are not widely available including:
- Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy combined with intraoperative cone-beam CT (CBCT) imaging to take biopsies from lung nodules
- Specialized lung biopsy to diagnose interstitial lung disease
- Advanced techniques to treat pleural disease and clear airway obstructions
Penn Medicine trains doctors in interventional pulmonology through a fellowship program that’s certified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. This ensures that fellow physicians meet quality standards for their subspecialty and that you receive expert care.
Striving to catch lung cancer early through Lung Watch
Catching lung cancer early before symptoms begin and when it’s the most treatable gives you the best chance for a better outcome. Using the latest technology, our health care providers look for risk factors like a history of smoking or a lung nodule on an imaging scan and refer you to our interventional pulmonology experts for lung cancer screening, if needed. If cancer develops, our goal is to catch it as early as possible when there are the most treatment options available.
Less invasive options for a quick and accurate diagnosis
Whether you have a pulmonary nodule, lung mass, enlarged lymph nodes, airway narrowing/blockage, emphysema, or another lung condition, our interventional pulmonology specialists can shorten the time between your diagnosis and treatment, helping you get the therapies you need. Penn Medicine providers also actively study new approaches to lung nodule diagnosis and lung cancer treatments, along with strategies to enhance current treatments for cancer. Because Penn Medicine is an academic medical center, you may have access to clinical trials that help expand treatment options and take part in leading-edge research. You can trust our interventional pulmonology specialists to expertly provide the pulmonary tests and procedures that can put you on a path to healing.
Our doctors
Our providers work with you to plan and deliver exceptional treatment and personalized care.
Locations
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