NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi Celebrates 100th Case Using Ion Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy
The technology identifies early-stage lung cancers with increased precision and faster diagnoses
Feb 02, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi today announced its 100th case using Ion robotic-assisted bronchoscopy to identify early-stage lung cancer. This technology gives doctors faster, more precise results so a treatment plan can begin as soon as possible. A typical biopsy can take up to 4 months, while the Ion robotic system can diagnose in as little as one month. The minimally invasive procedure allows doctors to access small or hard-to-reach nodules in the lungs by navigating a natural airway with a flexible catheter. Jacobi Hospital is one of the few centers in the region using the Ion robotic bronchoscopy platform for biopsies and diagnosis. Patients who receive a lung cancer diagnosis after their biopsy may undergo minimally invasive surgery using the Da Vinci robot to remove small nodules with minimal complications.
Patients between 50 and 80 years old with a history of smoking may be eligible for a lung cancer screening. Jacobi Hospital offers low-dose CT screening for lung cancer that is completely non-invasive, with no injections and no preparation needed. These screenings are widely available, including on weekends.
“Ion Robotic Bronchoscopy is a state-of-the-art technology for taking biopsies of very small lung nodules with precision, resulting in the lowest complication rate, and can help identify early-stage cancers. Once these patients are diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, we can offer them resection/surgical removal for treatment that could cure the patient,” said Dushyant Damania, MD, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx. “Before this technology, patients with small nodules less than 1 centimeter were managed by following up with imaging or underwent surgical resection, not knowing if this truly is a cancer or not. Our patients are very happy because we can now offer to biopsy these smaller nodules which does not need to be monitored with serial imaging and can be taken using this precise technology which helps to reduce anxiety for the patient.”
Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. The number one cause of this deadly disease is smoking, but other risk factors include genetics, gender, exposure to secondhand smoke and chronic lung disease. Patients who visit the Lung Cancer Screening Clinic at Jacobi and North Central Bronx Hospitals are evaluated and offered smoking cessation programs through counseling, medication, and behavioral changes. Dr. Damania confirms, “A holistic approach, combining treatment with lifestyle changes is key to ongoing care and recovery.”
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MEDIA CONTACT: Catherine Diaz, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi and NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx, 718-918-4879
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region’s only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi’s Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/jacobi.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx is a member facility of the NYC Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, North Central Bronx Hospital specializes in women’s and children’s services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. Its Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. North Central Bronx Hospital is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. For more information visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/north-central-bronx.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.