Genomic Testing for Lung Cancer Risk
Innovative, precise genetic testing for lung cancer diagnosis
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Identifying Risk for Lung Cancer
If your lung cancer screening shows a spot on your lungs, you want answers.
At Lahey Clinic you can access Percepta genomic testing to diagnose lung cancer.
About Percepta
Percepta uses a bronchial genomic classifier created by Veracyte, a diagnostics company. Veracyte made the genetic test available to a few United States institutions in 2015.
Lahey lung specialists recognized the importance of this new technology. Our lung experts committed time and resources to learn the procedure.
This lets you get the most advanced diagnostic care for lung cancer.
Benefits of Percepta
Percepta offers a non-invasive way to identify nodules and lesions without surgery.
This genetic test provides:
- A more accurate diagnosis than bronchoscopy
- The chance to avoid surgery
- Reduced risks of complications from a biopsy
More About Genomic Testing
If your low-dose computed tomography lung screening shows a nodule or lesion, your doctor will perform bronchoscopy.
During a bronchoscopy procedure:
- You are sedated.
- Your doctor guides a scope down your throat to the lungs.
- A camera lets your doctor view the spots on the lungs.
- Other tools allow your doctor to take tissue samples.
Bronchoscopies often produce inconclusive results. Up to 40% of the time cancer cannot be ruled out.
When this happens, you may need a more invasive follow-up biopsy to make a diagnosis. These procedures come with their own risks. For example:
- A needle biopsy carries a 25% risk of collapsed lung.
- A surgical biopsy is costly and brings risks of infection and other complications.
About one-third of patients who get surgery find their nodule is not cancerous.
You and your doctor may choose to monitor your lesions — with the chance they are cancerous.
Percepta genetic testing uses cell samples from your lungs. Your doctor collects the cells using a tiny brush during an initial bronchoscopy.
If your bronchoscopy results are inconclusive, the cell samples are tested. Your doctor sends your sample to a Percepta lab in San Francisco.
Percepta accurately identifies patients at low risk for lung cancer. If your genomic results put you in the low-risk category, you and your doctor create a monitoring plan.
Many low-risk patients check their lung nodules with regular CT scans. This means you can avoid invasive diagnostic procedures.
