Effective early diagnosis for NSCLC: an algorithm

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Lung cancer still remains undiagnosed for most patients until the disease is inoperable.

Areas covered

We performed search on PubMed with the keywords: EBUS, radial-EBUS, bronchoscopy, lung cancer, electromagnetic navigation, ct-biopsy, transthoracic biopsy. We present diagnostic equipment and imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography, endoscopical navigation systems, endobronchial ultrasound, radial-endobronchial ultrasound, transthoracic ultrasound biopsy, and computed tomography guided biopsies.

Expert opinion

However, lack of early disease symptoms remains the most important issue and therefore we should direct our efforts to screening and early disease diagnosis. An algorithm is proposed for biopsy upon initial disease diagnosis.

KEYWORDS:

• Bronchoscopy
• lung cancer
• EBUS-TBNA
• ct-biopsy
• ultrasound
• endoscopy

Article highlights

• Methods for early lung cancer diagnosis

• Pros and cons of the diagnostic methods

• Re-biopsy, where and when

• Biopsy sample of each diagnostic method

• Rapid on site evaluation, where and when

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.