CMRI launches Eastern India’s First Comprehensive Lung Nodule Evaluation & Advanced Management Clinic

The launch comes amid Kolkata reporting one of the country’s higher lung cancer burdens, attributed to smoking prevalence, air pollution, and post-infection lung abnormalities.

CK Birla Hospitals–CMRI Kolkata has launched Eastern India’s first comprehensive lung nodule evaluation and advanced management clinic, aimed at enabling early, accurate diagnosis and streamlined treatment of lung nodules, including early-stage lung cancer.

The launch comes amid Kolkata reporting one of the country’s higher lung cancer burdens, attributed to smoking prevalence, air pollution, and post-infection lung abnormalities. While several lung nodules are benign, others represent early malignancies requiring prompt intervention. The primary clinical challenge has been differentiating between the two with speed and precision.

According to the hospital, the newly launched clinic functions as a one-stop centre, integrating diagnostics, AI-assisted radiology, navigation bronchoscopy, and next-generation cryo-technologies into a single workflow to reduce diagnostic delays and procedural uncertainty.

A key component of the clinic is AI-assisted lung nodule risk detection, designed to flag suspicious nodules at an early stage and monitor subtle changes over time. This system is paired with advanced navigation bronchoscopy technology, often described as a “GPS for the lungs,” which generates a three-dimensional airway map to guide pulmonologists to peripheral or deep-seated nodules that are difficult to access using conventional methods.

The clinic has also incorporated real-time confirmation tools such as Radial Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) and Cone Beam CT (CBCT). These technologies provide intra-procedural imaging, allowing clinicians to confirm accurate targeting before tissue sampling, particularly in small or hard-to-reach nodules.

Dr Shyam Krishnan, Interventional Pulmonologist at CK Birla Hospitals–CMRI Kolkata, said the rise in incidental and screening-detected nodules has increased the need for rapid and reliable evaluation supported by precision technology. He noted that integrating AI-assisted interpretation, navigational bronchoscopy, and cryo-techniques into a single workflow can reduce unnecessary surgeries and shorten diagnostic timelines.

Dr Raja Dhar, Director and Head of the Department of Pulmonology at CMRI Kolkata, highlighted that the clinic enables navigation, CBCT confirmation, cryobiopsy, and EBUS staging to be conducted within one coordinated procedure, reducing the need for multiple hospital visits and prolonged diagnostic pathways.

The initiative has drawn international attention, with Dr Atul Mehta, a global expert in interventional pulmonology who attended the inauguration, stating that the facility is equipped with advanced infrastructure comparable to international centres.

Sombrata Roy, Unit Head at CK Birla Hospitals–CMRI Kolkata, said the clinic integrates artificial intelligence, advanced navigation, and cryobiopsy within a single coordinated system to accelerate diagnosis and clinical decision-making.

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