--- title: "Interventionl pulmonary grp decreases time to tx for lung CA | Sutter Health" description: "Obtaining a tissue bx dx through a gatekeeper interventional pulmonology practice decreases median delay from abnormal imaging to treatment initiation." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/interventionl-pulmonary-grp-decreases-time-to-tx-for-lung-ca-1055312409" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Interventionl pulmonary grp decreases time to tx for lung CA # Using a dedicated interventional pulmonology practice decreases wait time before treatment initiation for new lung cancer diagnoses. Benn BS, Parikh M, Tsau PH, Seeley E, & Krishna G. _Lung. doi: 10.1007/s00408-019-00207-6. \[Epub ahead of print\]_ 2019-02-19 ## Abstract PURPOSE: While there is significant mortality and morbidity with lung cancer, early stage diagnoses carry a better prognosis. As lung cancer screening programs increase with more pulmonary nodules detected, expediting definitive treatment initiation for newly diagnosed patients is imperative. The objective of our analysis was to determine if the use of a dedicated interventional pulmonology practice decreases time delay from new diagnosis of lung cancer or metastatic disease to the chest to treatment initiation. METHODS: Retrospective chart analysis was done of 87 consecutive patients with a new diagnosis of primary lung cancer or metastatic cancer to the chest from our interventional pulmonology procedures. Demographic information and time intervals from abnormal imaging to procedure and to treatment initiation were recorded. RESULTS: Patients were older (mean age 69) and former or current smokers (72%). A median of 27 days (1-127 days) passed from our diagnostic biopsy to treatment initiation. A median of 53 total days (2-449 days) passed from abnormal imaging to definitive treatment. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration was the most commonly used diagnostic procedure (59%), with non-small cell lung cancer the majority diagnosis (64%). For surgical patients, all biopsy-negative lymph nodes from our procedures were cancer-free at surgical excision. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to prior reports from international and United States cohorts, obtaining a tissue biopsy diagnosis through a gatekeeper interventional pulmonology practice decreases median delay from abnormal imaging to treatment initiation. This finding has the potential to positively impact patient outcomes and requires further evaluation. [PubMed abstract](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30783733) ![Ganesh Krishna, M.D., FCCP](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/7HZoN6h0d4phO4VQYcU6TE-_Cn72_cBpIS3NRGru51E/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) Ganesh Krishna, M.D., FCCP Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/ganesh-krishna-md-fccp-1049681082) ## Research topics - [All Cancer](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22All+Cancer%5C%22%22) - [Disease Management](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Disease+Management%5C%22%22) - [Lung Cancer](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Lung+Cancer%5C%22%22) - [Lung Nodules Diagnostics](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Lung+Nodules+Diagnostics%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Conducting implementation research in community-based primary care: a qualitative study on integrating patient decision support interventions for cancer screening into routine practice.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/integrate-cancer-screen-pt-decision-spt-1055312534) Frosch DL, Singer KJ, Timmermans S. Health Expect. 14 suppl 1:73-84. doi: 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2009.00579.x. 2011 Mar 01 - Publication ### [Internet patient decision support: a randomized controlled trial comparing alternative approaches for men considering prostate cancer screening.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/internet-pt-dec-spt-rct-prostate-cancer-screening-1055312532) Frosch DL, Bhatnagar V, Tally S, Hamori CJ, Kaplan RM. Arch Intern Med. 168(4):363-9. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2007.111. 2008 Feb 25 - Publication ### [In absentia: an exploratory study of how patients are considered in multidisciplinary cancer team meetings.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/pt-consideration-multidisciplin-cancer-team-mtgs-1055312430) Hahlweg P, Hoffmann J, Härter M, Frosch DL, Elwyn G, Scholl I. PLoS One. 10(10):e0139921. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139921. eCollection 2015. 2015 Oct 06 - Publication ### [Chemoprevention: risk reduction with medical therapy of inflammatory bowel disease.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/crc-risk-reduction-med-therapy-ibd-1055312878) Chan EP, Lichtenstein GR. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 35(3):675-712. 2006 Sep 01 - Publication ### [Improved targeting accuracy of lung tumor biopsies with scanning-beam digital x-ray tomosynthesis image guidance.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/lung-cancer-bx-x-ray-tomosynthesis-image-guidance-1055312495) Nelson G, Wu M, Hinkel C, Krishna G, Funk T, Rosenberg J, Fahrig R. Med Phys. 43(12):6282. 2016 Dec 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/interventionl-pulmonary-grp-decreases-time-to-tx-for-lung-ca-1055312409#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Interventionl pulmonary grp decreases time to tx for lung CA"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/interventionl-pulmonary-grp-decreases-time-to-tx-for-lung-ca-1055312409#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Using a dedicated interventional pulmonology practice decreases wait time before treatment initiation for new lung cancer diagnoses.","headline":"Interventionl pulmonary grp decreases time to tx for lung CA","abstract":"PURPOSE: While there is significant mortality and morbidity with lung cancer, early stage diagnoses carry a better prognosis. As lung cancer screening programs increase with more pulmonary nodules detected, expediting definitive treatment initiation for newly diagnosed patients is imperative. The objective of our analysis was to determine if the use of a dedicated interventional pulmonology practice decreases time delay from new diagnosis of lung cancer or metastatic disease to the chest to treatment initiation. METHODS: Retrospective chart analysis was done of 87 consecutive patients with a new diagnosis of primary lung cancer or metastatic cancer to the chest from our interventional pulmonology procedures. Demographic information and time intervals from abnormal imaging to procedure and to treatment initiation were recorded. RESULTS: Patients were older (mean age 69) and former or current smokers (72%). A median of 27 days (1-127 days) passed from our diagnostic biopsy to treatment initiation. A median of 53 total days (2-449 days) passed from abnormal imaging to definitive treatment. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration was the most commonly used diagnostic procedure (59%), with non-small cell lung cancer the majority diagnosis (64%). For surgical patients, all biopsy-negative lymph nodes from our procedures were cancer-free at surgical excision. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to prior reports from international and United States cohorts, obtaining a tissue biopsy diagnosis through a gatekeeper interventional pulmonology practice decreases median delay from abnormal imaging to treatment initiation. This finding has the potential to positively impact patient outcomes and requires further evaluation.","description":"Obtaining a tissue bx dx through a gatekeeper interventional pulmonology practice decreases median delay from abnormal imaging to treatment initiation.","keywords":["All Cancer","Disease Management","Lung Cancer","Lung Nodules Diagnostics"],"datePublished":"2019-02-19","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/interventionl-pulmonary-grp-decreases-time-to-tx-for-lung-ca-1055312409","inLanguage":"en-US","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"PMID","value":"30783733"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"DOI","value":"10.1007/s00408-019-00207-6"}],"sameAs":["https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30783733/","https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-019-00207-6"],"isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Lung"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Benn BS"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Parikh M"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Tsau PH"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Seeley E"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/ganesh-krishna-md-fccp-1049681082","name":"Krishna G","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/ganesh-krishna-md-fccp-1049681082"}],"sourceOrganization":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute"},"about":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"All Cancer","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22All+Cancer%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Disease Management","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Disease+Management%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Lung Cancer","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Lung+Cancer%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Lung Nodules Diagnostics","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Lung+Nodules+Diagnostics%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/interventionl-pulmonary-grp-decreases-time-to-tx-for-lung-ca-1055312409","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/interventionl-pulmonary-grp-decreases-time-to-tx-for-lung-ca-1055312409#breadcrumblist"}}} ```