[The prognostic value of micrometastasis in non-small cell lung cancer]

Lung cancer ranks top in morbidity and mortality among the malignancies in China. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 80%-85% of all lung malignancies. The stage at diagnosis is the principal prognostic indicator, and accurate staging is essential for treatment decisions. After radical surgical resection in patients with stage I disease, the recurrence rate ranges from 25% to 30%. Patients with a poor outcome may have occult locoregional and/or distant metastasis before resection. In recent years, there are a lot of researches aimingat detecting micrometastasis and evaluating the prognostic value of it. This study reviewed the prognostic value of micrometastasis in lymph node, bone marrow, pleural cavity and peripheral blood.