Hospital Oncológico hits 100 robotic lung biopsies: reaching a nodule without open surgery

Puerto Rico's Hospital Oncológico has completed its first 100 robotic lung biopsies, one year after launching the equipment, and on Thursday it formally unveiled a dedicated suite for these procedures as part of lung cancer awareness month ¹. For anyone with a spot on the lung, the practical point is this: doctors can now reach the lesion through the airways, without open surgery ¹.

Background

A lung nodule is a small spot that shows up on an X-ray or CT scan, often by chance. The question is always whether it is cancer. Until recently, answering it could require surgery or a needle through the chest wall. The robotic system used at the Oncológico lets doctors collect samples without open surgery ¹.

Pulmonologist Luis Gerena Montano, who is certified in advanced bronchoscopy, said he used to perform these procedures at the Veterans Hospital, but access was limited to that population. After several years of effort, the Hospital Oncológico approved the proposal, bought the equipment and began operating ¹. According to Gerena, only two centers on the island offer this type of biopsy today: one in the metro area and one in the south ¹.

Lung cancer is not rare here. Earlier reporting places it as the third most common cancer among men and the fourth among women in Puerto Rico ³.

The numbers

• 100 robotic lung biopsies completed in the first year of use ¹.
• More than 69% five-year survival when the disease is caught at stage one ¹.
• Under 12% five-year survival when the disease is metastatic or distant ¹.
• Ages 50 to 80 is the range for annual low-dose CT screening, for people with at least 20 pack-years of smoking who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years ².
• Screening stops at age 81, after 15 or more years without smoking, or if a health problem would make surgery unsafe or unwanted ².

Hospital executive director Ramón Burgos Méndez said the new suite allows nodule evaluation and biopsies with minimal complications, and that the first 100 procedures were successful, including cases where the nodule was confirmed not to be cancer ¹. That matters: part of the technology's value is ruling out cancer without putting the patient through major surgery.

Medical director Luis Delgado Mateo put it in terms of timing: early detection is decisive for prognosis ¹. The gap between more than 69% and under 12% survival is why specialists insist on not waiting ¹.

What it means for you

If you smoke or used to, and you are between 50 and 80, ask your doctor whether you meet the criteria for the annual low-dose CT scan ². It is quick and painless, and it is the recommended screening test ².

If you never smoked, don't rule yourself out. Gerena was clear: lung cancer does not affect only smokers. Secondhand smoke, asbestos, certain chemicals and workplace pollutants also count ¹. Pulmonologist Ruth Santos added that nodules need medical follow-up and, when indicated, are referred for a specialized biopsy ¹.

And if you have been told you have a nodule, don't leave it in limbo. Specialists urged people not to postpone evaluations and noted that a diagnosis should not be seen as a death sentence, because treatment and cure are possible when caught in time ¹.

On cost: the hospital said it keeps an assistance program for patients who cannot afford their care ¹. Coverage under your plan depends on your insurer, so confirm before the appointment.

How to / Checklist

1. Check your symptoms. Persistent chest pain, a constant cough, coughing up blood or shortness of breath warrant prompt medical evaluation ¹.
2. Calculate your pack-years. One pack a day for one year equals one pack-year; a pack a day for 20 years is 20 pack-years ².
3. Talk to your primary care doctor about the low-dose CT scan if you are 50 to 80 and meet the smoking history ².
4. If you already have a nodule, ask for a pulmonology referral to evaluate whether a specialized biopsy is appropriate ¹.
5. Ask about financial help. Contact the Hospital Oncológico and the Liga Puertorriqueña contra el Cáncer (ligacancerpr.org) for guidance on the assistance program ¹⁴.
6. Verify your coverage with your health plan, whether Vital, Medicare or private, before scheduling the test.

What's next

The hospital marked its first year with the technology and says it wants to widen diagnostic options for patients ¹. Because November is lung cancer awareness month, expect more educational and screening activities in the coming weeks ¹. The open question is access: with only two centers on the island doing this biopsy, patients in the north, east and west will depend on referrals and travel ¹.

Sources

1. Medicina y Salud Pública, "Hospital Oncológico de Puerto Rico alcanza 100 biopsias pulmonares realizadas con tecnología robótica", November 5, 2026. https://medicinaysaludpublica.com/noticias/oncologia/hospital-oncologico-de-puerto-rico-alcanza-100-biopsias-pulmonares-realizadas-con-tecnologia-robotica/31242
2. CDC, "Screening for Lung Cancer". https://www.cdc.gov/lung-cancer/screening/index.html
3. Metro Puerto Rico, "Avances en lucha contra el cáncer de pulmón". https://www.metro.pr/estilo-vida/2018/08/28/avances-lucha-cancer-pulmon
4. Liga Puertorriqueña contra el Cáncer. https://ligacancerpr.org/