MONARCH platform enables more precise navigation deep into the lungs during diagnostic procedures.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has become the first hospital in the Middle East to introduce robot-assisted bronchoscopy, offering doctors a minimally invasive way to biopsy small, hard-to-reach lung nodules that can be among the earliest detectable signs of lung cancer.
The hospital said the MONARCH™ platform uses advanced robotic technology to guide a flexible endoscope deep into the lungs with improved stability and precision, allowing physicians to collect tissue samples from small nodules in real time. The technology is expected to enhance diagnostic accuracy at an earlier stage, helping doctors make timely treatment decisions.
Robotic bronchoscopy offers a more precise approach to diagnosing difficult-to-reach lung nodules.
The minimally invasive procedure is carried out under general anaesthesia and usually takes between 30 and 75 minutes.
In addition to supporting the early detection of Stage 1 lung cancer, the platform can help diagnose a range of lung conditions, including nodules linked to cancers that have spread to the lungs, benign lung growths, tuberculosis and inflammatory lung diseases.
According to the hospital, Stage 1 lung cancer has a five-year survival rate of more than 70%, highlighting the importance of identifying and assessing suspicious lung nodules at the earliest possible stage.
Department of Health supports rollout of new technology
The introduction of the robotic bronchoscopy platform has received support from the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi as part of broader efforts to expand access to advanced medical technologies and strengthen early detection and diagnosis across the emirate.
Doctors say technology could transform diagnosis.
Dr Georges-Pascal Haber, Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said the technology would enhance diagnostic precision while reducing the need for more invasive procedures.
“By investing in advanced technology, we are improving diagnostic accuracy while providing patients with safer, less invasive care,” he said.
Dr Zaid Zoumot, Division Chair of Pulmonary Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Hospital Care Institute, said the system allows physicians to reach and biopsy lung nodules that were previously challenging to access.
“We can now precisely navigate to and biopsy even the smallest and most difficult-to-reach lung nodules, enabling diagnosis at earlier stages when lung cancer is most treatable,” he said.
Platform could pave the way for future lung cancer treatments.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi said the same robotic platform could potentially support future treatments for lung nodules, including ablation procedures using heat or cold therapy. If these applications become available, they could help reduce the need for more invasive interventions.
For now, the hospital said the technology’s immediate value lies in improving access to earlier and more accurate diagnoses, giving physicians an additional tool to detect lung cancer and other lung conditions before they progress to more advanced stages.
