Kolkata’s CK Birla Hospitals–CMRI has launched Eastern India’s first Comprehensive Lung Nodule Evaluation and Advanced Management Clinic to improve early detection and treatment of lung cancer.
The clinic integrates artificial intelligence-assisted radiology, precision navigation bronchoscopy, real-time imaging tools and advanced biopsy techniques to enable faster and more accurate clinical decisions.
The initiative responds to a sharp rise in lung cancer cases in Eastern India, where many patients present with small, incidental lung nodules that can be difficult to diagnose and distinguish from benign abnormalities. The clinic’s enhanced diagnostic workflow allows pulmonologists to reach deep-seated or peripheral nodules that are often inaccessible using conventional methods.
Real-time imaging confirmation tools such as Radial Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) and Cone Beam CT (CBCT)are used to verify accurate targeting before tissue sampling, improving success rates for diagnosing small or hard-to-reach nodules. Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy, a minimally invasive technique that yields larger, higher-quality tissue samples than traditional needle biopsies, is used to increase diagnostic yield and reduce the need for surgical biopsies.
Most patients can undergo navigation, imaging confirmation, biopsy and staging in a single visit, significantly reducing waiting times for critical diagnostic procedures. The clinic is expected to serve as a referral hub for pulmonologists, oncologists and radiologists across Eastern India, supporting early detection and more timely management of lung cancer and related pulmonary conditions.
