Lung cancer kills 1.3 million people a year and is the leading cause of cancer death world wide. Nearly 220,000 men and women were diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States in 2009, with nearly 160,000 Americans dying from the disease. For years, researchers have been seeking a way to detect lung cancer at its early stages, when it is most treatable. Last year we reported on an electronic nose developed in Israel that used nanoparticles to sniff out organic compounds in lung cancer, facilitating early diagnosis. Now there is a another technique poised to change the way lung cancer is diagnosed and treated.
Super Dimension , a private company based in Israel, has developed a comprehensive, advanced lung navigation system called Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy (ENB). First developed in 2005, it is now used in over 275 hospitals worldwide, and has facilitated diagnosis in over 15,000 patients.