Imaging of the patient with non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer and is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women. Even though the 5-year survival rate of patients with lung cancer remains dismal at 14% for all cancer stages, treatments are improving and newer agents for lung cancer appear promising. Therefore, an accurate assessment of the extent of disease is critical to determine whether the patient is treated with surgical resection, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these modalities. Radiologic imaging plays an important role in the staging evaluation of the patient; however, radiologists need to be aware that there are also important differences in what each specialist needs from imaging to provide appropriate treatment. This article reviews the role of imaging in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, with an emphasis on the radiologic imaging findings relevant for each specialty.