In May 2025, Montefiore Einstein reached a major milestone, completing its 1,000th robot-assisted bronchoscopy procedure—an achievement reached by relatively few programs worldwide delivering robotic bronchoscopy as part of routine clinical care. This milestone reflects not just growth, but measurable progress in diagnosing lung cancer at earlier, more treatable stages, when outcomes are significantly improved.

For patients at risk of lung cancer, the impact is clear and reflected in earlier-stage diagnosis, when the disease is typically more treatable. In 2024, nearly half of the lung cancers diagnosed by Montefiore Einstein’s interventional pulmonologists and lung cancer specialists were identified at stage I—an early stage associated with an approximate 65% five-year survival rate, compared with about 8% for stage IV disease, based on national survival data from the American Lung Association and National Cancer Institute (NCI)’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program (SEER*Explorer, 2023).

“Our Interventional Pulmonology Program is among the most experienced in the country,” said Daniel J. DaCosta, MD, Director of Interventional Pulmonology at Montefiore Einstein. “This combination of clinical expertise and advanced technology allows us to deliver timely and accurate diagnoses, with diagnostic accuracy rates of approximately 90%—well above benchmarks for leading programs. We offer some of the shortest wait times from referral to diagnosis procedure, typically within one to two weeks.”

Precision Robotics & Real-Time Imaging Transform Lung Nodule Diagnosis Robotic bronchoscopy has transformed lung cancer diagnosis by improving reach, stability and precision within the most peripheral regions of the lung, where more than 70% of cancerous nodules are located. By integrating the Ion Endoluminal System by Intuitive Surgical Operations, which uses shape-sensing technology and real-time navigation, with cone-beam computed tomography (CT) imaging, endobronchial ultrasound and cryobiopsy technology, Montefiore Einstein’s Interventional Pulmonology team can plan and confirm precise biopsy of pulmonary lesions in real time during the procedure. Advanced software guides physicians through seventh- and eighth-generation airways while supporting both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) visualization during navigation. This integrated approach enables safer and more accurate minimally invasive biopsies of nodules deep in the lung periphery, including those measuring less than one centimeter, which were once difficult or impossible to access.

For select patients, robotic bronchoscopy at Montefiore Einstein also supports streamlined, single-procedure management of pulmonary nodules. For the initial component of the procedure, robotic bronchoscopy and cone-beam CT can be used to precisely implant fluorescent coils in nodules that would be difficult for the surgeon to feel. Care is then transferred to our surgical team, who are able to hone in on the marked region using the da Vinci Firefly Imaging System. This allows the surgeons to precisely localize and remove small lesions during the same anesthesia session, supporting lung-sparing surgery.

With two robotic bronchoscopy suites at Montefiore Einstein Hospital, Moses Campus, and Jack D. Weiler Hospital, Einstein Campus, Dr. DaCosta and his team, including Hyun S. Kim, MD, Ali Sadoughi, MD, and David E. Schecter, MD, provide consistent access to minimally invasive diagnostic care across the Bronx and beyond. The Program currently performs approximately 600 robotic bronchoscopies annually, placing it among the top 10% of the highest-volume programs in the country. These technologies are applied routinely, helping patients move efficiently from detection to diagnosis.

Care is closely integrated with Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center through the Follow-Up ASsessmenT of Lung Nodules (FAST) Clinic, which leverages artificial intelligence, clinical navigation and coordinated care pathways to guide patients whose lung nodules are incidentally identified on imaging performed for noncancerous indications. The Clinic helps ensure patients are not lost to follow-up and receive timely diagnostic evaluation—often beginning with robotic bronchoscopy so they can get answers without unnecessary delay.

“We work hand-in-hand with our colleagues at the Cancer Center,” Dr. DaCosta added. “That close collaboration allows us to diagnose patients quickly, coordinate next steps seamlessly and help them get back to their lives.”

Montefiore Einstein’s world-renowned interventional pulmonologists are shaping the future of lung cancer care by training the next generation of leaders in advanced robotic bronchoscopy. Our Program is set to become one of approximately 40 programs nationwide to offer an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited fellowship in interventional pulmonology, directed by Dr. Kim. In addition, the Program has been selected by Intuitive, a global leader in surgical robotics, as one of a limited number of international training and observation sites, welcoming physicians from around the world to learn advanced robotic bronchoscopy techniques.

These advancements underscore Montefiore Einstein’s ongoing commitment to innovation, expanding access to advanced diagnostic technologies and supporting earlier lung cancer detection to help improve patient outcomes. Montefiore Einstein is ranked in the top 1% of all hospitals in the nation for pulmonology and lung surgery and cancer care, according to U.S. News & World Report. Our Comprehensive Lung Program is fully integrated with Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, among the elite 1% of National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S., ensuring patients benefit from coordinated, leading-edge care from diagnosis through treatment.