Mayo Clinic Study Finds Robotic Bronchoscopy Safer, More Accurate for Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Researchers report high sensitivity and diagnostic yield for the minimally invasive procedure.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:45am

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A five-year, multisite study from Mayo Clinic found that robotic-assisted bronchoscopy provides a less invasive and more precise approach to diagnosing lung cancer. The study evaluated 2,115 lung lesions in 1,904 patients across Mayo Clinic campuses, reporting 85% sensitivity for malignancy and 76.9% accuracy under new national criteria. The procedure also had a low complication rate of 2.8%. Since adopting robotic bronchoscopy, the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed at an early stage at Mayo Clinic increased from 46% in 2019 to nearly 69% by mid-2024.

Why it matters

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the U.S., so earlier and more accurate diagnosis is critical for improving survival rates. Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional lung biopsy procedures, which can be risky and lead to complications.

The details

The Mayo Clinic study evaluated 2,115 lung lesions in 1,904 patients across three Mayo Clinic campuses between 2019 and 2024. Researchers found the robotic-assisted bronchoscopy procedure had 85% sensitivity for malignancy and 76.9% accuracy, meeting new national diagnostic yield criteria. The complication rate was just 2.8%. Since adopting the robotic technology, the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed at an early stage at Mayo Clinic increased from 46% in 2019 to nearly 69% by mid-2024.

  • The study was conducted over a 5-year period from 2019 to 2024.
  • The proportion of early-stage lung cancer diagnoses at Mayo Clinic increased from 46% in 2019 to nearly 69% by mid-2024.

The players

Sebastian Fernandez-Bussy, M.D.

The James C. and Sarah K. Kennedy Dean of Research at Mayo Clinic in Florida and the lead author of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings study.

Mayo Clinic

A nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, education, and research, with campuses in Jacksonville, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; and Rochester, Minnesota.

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What they’re saying

“Lung cancer survival depends heavily on early detection. Technologies that allow us to diagnose and even treat disease earlier - and with fewer complications - can help improve survival.”

— Sebastian Fernandez-Bussy, M.D., James C. and Sarah K. Kennedy Dean of Research at Mayo Clinic in Florida

What’s next

Mayo Clinic plans to continue studying the long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness of robotic-assisted bronchoscopy to further validate its benefits for lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The takeaway

This study demonstrates that robotic-assisted bronchoscopy is a promising new tool for improving lung cancer detection and diagnosis. By offering a less invasive approach with high accuracy, the technology has the potential to catch more lung cancers at an earlier, more treatable stage, which could significantly improve patient outcomes.