Finding Answers Sooner: Dr. Mustafa Itani Brings Robotic Lung Biopsy to St. Francis

New St. Francis Emory Healthcare pulmonologist Dr. Mustafa Itani completes multiple successful Ion robotic bronchoscopies, giving patients a precise, incision-free way to check lung nodules.

Hearing that a scan found a spot on your lung is stressful, and the wait for answers can feel even longer. At St. Francis Emory Healthcare patients can now get those answers sooner, through a gentler, less invasive path.Mustafa Itani, M.D., a board-certified pulmonary and critical care physician, has joined the St. Francis Cardiovascular and Thoracic Institute. He has already completed multiple successful Ion robotic-assisted bronchoscopies, a minimally invasive procedure that lets him reach and sample hard-to-access lung nodules through the body's natural airways.

Reaching the Hardest Spots in the Lung

Lung nodules often form in the outer edges of the lungs, at the end of small, twisting airways. These areas have long been difficult to reach from inside the lung, because the lung's structure is complex and always moving as you breathe.

Ion changes that. It is a robotic system that helps physicians guide a thin, flexible scope through the airways' many turns. The system holds the scope steady, so providers such as Dr. Itani can navigate directly to the nodule with precision and be confident he is sampling tissue from the right spot.

Because the scope travels through the airways, small tissue samples are collected without incisions or punctures to the lung. Those samples go to a lab to check for cancer cells. If cancer is found, staging can often be performed with standard tools during the same procedure to see whether it has spread.

What to Expect

1. Before: Ion uses your CT scan to build a detailed map of your lungs. It gives providers real-time guidance to the nodule.

2. During: Guided by that map, a provider steers the scope to the suspicious spot and takes a few tiny tissue samples. The procedure takes on average between 30 minutes to an hour.

3. After: Most patients are able to return home the same day and get back to their usual activities soon after, unless they are staying in the hospital for other reasons.

The results help your care team understand your condition and decide on the right treatment, if any is needed.

Meet St. Francis Emory Healthcare Pulmonologist Dr. Mustafa Itani

Dr. Itani brings more than 30 years of clinical experience in the United States and the Middle East. He earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut and completed his pulmonary and critical care fellowship at New York Medical College.

He is American Board-certified and a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians (FCCP). His practice centers on patient-centered, evidence-based care that is compassionate, safe and collaborative.

Dr. Itani diagnoses and treats a full range of lung and critical care conditions, including asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis. Beyond robotic bronchoscopy, he performs advanced airway management, pulmonary function testing, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), portable sleep studies, transbronchial biopsy, thoracentesis and more.

Take the Next Step

If you or a loved one has questions on, or is experiencing symptoms regarding a potential lung nodule, ask your doctor whether a robotic bronchoscopy with Dr. Itani is right for you. To schedule an appointment, call 706.320.3010. He is located at 2300 Manchester Expressway, Suite 1009, Columbus, GA 31904.

Ion is a trademark of Intuitive Surgical. Individual results may vary.