Piedmont Rockdale celebrates milestone in early lung cancer detection

Conyers, Ga. (January 5, 2026) – Last month, Piedmont Rockdale Hospital celebrated the completion of its 100th procedure using the ION robotic-assisted bronchoscopy system. This milestone marks an important step in the early detection of lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the third-most common cancer in the United States and the leading cause of cancer death. The American Cancer Society estimates that there were over 225,000 new cases of lung cancer in 2025. Early diagnosis is key to successful treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year relative survival for stage 1 lung cancer is 65% compared to 28% across all stages.

The ION system allows doctors to reach small lesions in all 18 segments of the lung. These areas were often difficult to reach with traditional biopsy methods, but doctors can now use ION to diagnose lung cancer at earlier stages, often before symptoms appear.

Piedmont Rockdale acquired the ION system in 2024. Pulmonologists Hadi Hatoum, M.D., and Christin-Lauren Tanksley, M.D., perform the minimally invasive procedures with the assistance of a highly trained surgical team.

“Having this state-of-the-art technology at Piedmont Rockdale allows us to diagnose lung cancer earlier and with greater precision,” said Dr. Tanksley. “Early detection saves lives. We encourage everyone at higher risk of lung cancer talk to their doctor about screening options.”

The American Cancer Society recommends annual low-dose CT screenings for patients at higher risk of lung cancer based on age and smoking history.* CT screenings allow doctors to identify any nodules. If a nodule is found, they may suggest an ION robotic bronchoscopy to determine if it is cancerous.

“Congratulations to our pulmonary and surgical teams for completing 100 ION procedures,” said Monica Hum, M.D., CEO of Piedmont Rockdale. “This milestone reflects our commitment to bringing the latest diagnostic tools and specialty care to our community.”

For more information or to book an appointment with a Piedmont provider, visit Piedmont.org.

*Age: 50 to 80 years old; Smoking history: Smoke or used to smoke and have at least a 20 pack-year history of smoking. The number of pack-years is the number of packs of cigarettes per day multiplied by the number of years smoked. For example, someone who smoked two packs a day for 10 years [2 x 10 = 20] has 20 pack-years of smoking, as does a person who smoked one pack a day for 20 years [1 x 20 = 20].