UTSW introduces single-port robotic surgery for lung cancer
Minimally invasive lung resection, a first for North Texas, may reduce recovery time for some patients
DALLAS – June 30, 2026 – A team at UT Southwestern Medical Center is the first in North Texas to offer single-port robotic-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, a minimally invasive procedure for select patients with early-stage lung cancer.
Since March, UT Southwestern surgeons have performed 13 single-port pulmonary resections, including lobectomies and segmentectomies, using a single-port robotic surgical system (da Vinci SP). The system received Food and Drug Administration clearance in 2024 for certain urologic and thoracoscopic procedures. The platform allows surgeons to remove tumors and surrounding tissue through a single inch-long incision below the rib cage.
“Our goal is to provide patients with lung cancer an efficient, complete, and timely treatment pathway. Adopting this new technology is a welcome extension of our comprehensive thoracic oncology program,” said Takashi Eguchi, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery at UT Southwestern.
Dr. Eguchi and Aitua Salami, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery and a member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern, perform this unique surgery.
UT Southwestern thoracic surgeons use advanced imaging techniques such as near-infrared technology and 3D reconstruction to localize lung nodules that may not be visible with traditional white light imaging so that they are amenable to precise lung resections.
“When we see patients with suspicious lung nodules, we implement an accelerated treatment pathway,” Dr. Salami said. “In some cases, we can move patients from nodule identification to definitive treatment within a few days, compared to several weeks or months at lower-volume centers.”
For select patients with early-stage lung cancer, the single-port technique may facilitate earlier recovery, shorter hospital stays, reduced pain, and a lower risk of certain postoperative complications.
“Patients may experience less pain after single-port robotic resection because we access the lung below the rib cage instead of through the chest,” Dr. Salami said.
In most cases, lung cancer is highly treatable when diagnosed at an early stage and managed by a multidisciplinary team.
“At UT Southwestern, thoracic surgery, interventional pulmonology, medical and radiation oncology are integrated into one team, ensuring that every patient gets an individualized treatment plan,” Dr. Eguchi said. “Offering single-port lobectomy expands our treatment options and supports our goal of delivering precise, individualized care.”
UT Southwestern is ranked among the top 20 hospitals nationwide for cardiology, heart & vascular surgery and for pulmonology & lung surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
About UT Southwestern Medical Center
UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 27 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 25 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of nearly 3,400 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians in more than 80 specialties care for more than 143,000 hospitalized patients, attend to more than 470,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5.3 million outpatient visits a year.