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April 2026 IMAGING AGENT ILLUMINATES CANCER CELLS IN FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND LUNG CANCER SURGERY ON COPD PATIENT AT NORTHWESTERN MEDICINEFeaturing: Justin M. Karush, DO
The first procedure with pafolacianine at Northwestern Medicine was performed by Justin Karush, DO, surgical director of Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute at Palos Hospital.
Administered before surgery, this FDA‑approved imaging agent binds to folate receptors often found in high concentrations on cancer cells and causes them to fluoresce under near‑infrared camera, helping surgeons remove cancerous tissue more precisely. “This technology gives us another layer of visibility during surgery,” says Dr. Karush. “Bringing new technology [...] into the operating room allows us to elevate the care we’re able to provide.” The patient, 70, had severe COPD damage in his right upper lobe and was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in his lower right lobe in October 2025. This left him at a higher risk of respiratory dysfunction after surgery. Dr. Karush performed a successful robotic assisted right lower lobectomy, and pafolacianine helped him determine that tumor was larger than previously identified by CT scan and adjust accordingly. |
Justin M. Karush, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Thoracic Surgery
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