With advanced biopsy techniques, our team of specialists can detect lung cancer at earlier stages to improve outcomes and your quality of life. Our team is experienced in several minimally invasive techniques.

• Low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT) scan. We use this to screen for lung cancer in patients with a high risk of developing lung cancer.
• Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy. Our experts perform a high volume of this technique to biopsy very small nodules and diagnose lung cancer at its earliest stages, when it's easier to treat and cure.
• Endobronchial ultrasound biopsy (EBUS). This technique uses a scope with a built-in ultrasound probe to check the lymph nodes in the chest.
• Needle biopsy. This procedure uses a needle to remove some cells or a small piece of tissue from the body for testing.
• Thoracoscopy (pleuroscopy). This procedure uses a scope with a tiny camera to view the lining of the lungs, diaphragm and chest wall.
• Clinical genomics program. We can help you assess your inherited risk for lung cancer and identify a personalized approach for you.

Using minimally invasive techniques, our surgeons can preserve lung function, reduce your recovery time, and limit the long-term impact of treatment. We treat people with the most complex cases — providing hope when you have been told there are no surgical options.

• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). This minimally invasive technique uses a tiny camera to help guide the surgeon during surgery.
• Robotic-assisted surgery. A catheter is guided by a robotic arm controlled by the physician to the site of the lung lesion, to perform a minimally invasive biopsy with precision and stability.
• Target procedures. These include wedge resection to remove a small lung section containing the tumor, segmental resection to remove a larger portion of lung, lobectomy to remove the entire lobe of one lung, and pneumonectomy to remove an entire lung.
• Airway stenting. We have a team of specialists in these complex procedures to open airways and sometimes place stents when airways are blocked by tumors or scarring.
• Tumor localization techniques. These include the use of specialized dyes and markers to help localize tumors more precisely during surgery, enabling greater lung preservation and accuracy with resection We can help you assess your inherited risk for lung cancer and identify a personalized approach for you.

We use technologies that make it possible for our experts to target tumors with precision and minimize side effects.

• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). X-rays are carefully customized to match the shape of the cancer and deliver the prescribed radiation dose.
• Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT). A machine continuously rotates around the patient, delivering precise shaped beams that maximize radiation to the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue as much as possible.
• Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT). A highly precise ablative radiotherapy course that is given over 5 or fewer treatments.
• Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Images taken before the treatment session are used to help increase precision of powerful energy beams from X-rays, protons or other sources.
• Proton Beam Therapy (PBT). Advanced and highly precise charged particle therapy designed to maximize radiation to the tumor while sparing surrounding healthy tissue as much as possible.

We offer several approaches that use medicines and other therapies to target lung cancer cells with great precision.

• Tumor-targeted chemotherapy. We can test to determine the medicines that work best against your specific lung cancer.
• Immunotherapy. These are medicines that help the immune system cells detect and kill the cancer cells. It might be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that remain, or to help control your cancer when surgery isn’t an option.
• Targeted medical therapies. These are medicines that attack specific chemicals in the cancer calls, causing their death. Some only work in people whose cancer cells have certain DNA changes. Your cancer cells may be tested to see if these medicines might help you. These therapies may be an option when cancer has spread or returned after treatment.
• Targeted cryotherapy. This minimally invasive procedure uses targeted cooling mechanisms to freeze and destroy tumors and help minimize pain after surgery. This process has been well established in liver tumors and kidney tumors, and experts in Mayo Clinic's lung ablation specialty group are investigating its use in lung tumors.
• Pulsed electric field. This innovative technique involves the controlled application of high intensity, short duration electric pulses to tumor tissue, which allows your natural immune system to infiltrate, access, and kill the tumor cells.
• Clinical trials. Mayo Clinic researchers are conducting multiple clinical trials.