Pearls and pitfalls in lung cancer staging

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK and is the leading cause of death. Radiology plays a central role in the diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected and known lung cancer. Tumour assessment includes both local staging, as well as distant staging. Local staging objectives include the assessment of technical resectability with regard to the evaluation of tumour size and invasion of surrounding structures. Distant staging objectives aim to identify distant metastasis in lymphatic and extra lymphatic tissues. CT, positron emission tomography/CT, MRI, and ultrasound are routinely used imaging techniques for staging in patients with lung cancer. In this review, we will consider the pitfalls of these examinations that radiologists potentially face during the work-up of patients with lung cancer.