Are you at high-risk for lung cancer?

High-risk patients, such as longtime smokers, and those with a previous diagnosis of head and neck cancer can now feel renewed hope; there is a minimally invasive lung cancer diagnostic tool right for them.

Autofluorescence bronchoscopy (AFB) is a cutting-edge tool available at only five percent of U.S. hospitals and cancer centers. MedStar Franklin Square's Thoracic Cancer Center is one of them. Our lung cancer team uses AFB to examine the major airways of individuals with symptoms of lung cancer and those considered at high risk for lung cancer.

• Who are the best candidates for AFB?
• What to expect from AFB?
• A surprising benefit of AFB

Who are the best candidates for AFB?

If you are high risk for lung cancer, you are the best candidate for AFB. High-risk individuals have a:

• Family history of lung cancer
• Previous diagnosis of emphysema
• History of asbestos exposure
• History of cigarette smoking, including those:
  • Age 50 and older, who have smoked a pack of cigarettes each day for 20 years
  • Who have smoked two packs of cigarettes every day for 10 years
  • Have a previous diagnosis of head and neck cancer

What should I expect from AFB?

1. You will lie down on a comfortable table. Your doctor will insert a scope through your nose or mouth into your lungs
2. A video camera and two different light sources will give your physician an excellent view of your airways

In addition to a traditional white light source, a special blue light is used that causes abnormal cells to stand out, making it possible for MedStar Franklin Square's experienced interventional pulmonologists to distinguish between normal and abnormal tissue.

The entire procedure takes between five and 15 minutes.

A surprising benefit of AFB

In addition to being minimally invasive, AFB is currently the only reliable method for detecting the earliest airway cancers-and precancers. Since our lung cancer specialists can easily remove precancers (also known as cell dysplasias) during the exam, AFB is not only an early detection technology, but can be a prevention tool as well.

To make an appointment with one of our experienced lung cancer specialists, please call 443-777-5864 (LUNG).