The world's smallest microscope is helping doctors at LSU Health Shreveport make some life-saving discoveries.

The power of a pin-sized microscope called Cellvizio allows pulmonologists likes Dr. Adam Wellikoff spot lung diseases at the earliest stages.

Wellikof says by spotting the abnormalities early, diseases like lung cancer may be treated without surgery.

"What would usually take weeks to months and require invasive procedure and surgery, we might be able to do in a couple of hours in an outpatient procedure where you're in here by 8:00 in the morning and home by lunchtime," said Dr. Wellikoff.

He hopes to soon be able to sample and stage lung cancer within an hour.

Today, the process can take as long as six months which is long enough for cancer to advance.

LSU Health will be among 20 centers in the United States to contribute tissue samples to a new lung registry.

The effort could dramatically increase the ability to recognize and treat lung cancers in the future.

Since August, Wellikoff and his fellow physicians have used Cellvizio more than 40 times.