[Chinese expert consensus on diagnosis of early lung cancer (2023 Edition)]

Lung cancer is the leading cause of the incidence and mortality of malignant tumors in our country, seriously endangering people's lives and health. The treatment of lung cancer has made great progress in the past 10 years, and the 5-year survival rate of lung cancer in China has also increased from 16.1% to 19.7%, but about 75% of patients are still in advanced stages of lung cancer at the time of diagnosis, missing the best time for radical surgery. Early diagnosis can significantly improve the prognosis and survival of lung cancer patients. From the 5-year survival rate of lung cancer patients, it can be seen that the 5-year survival rate of stage Ⅰ patients was 77%-92%, while that of stage ⅢA-ⅣA patients was only 10%-36%, and there was a significant difference in the 5-year survival rate. Studies have shown that early-diagnosed and completely resected lung adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) have 5-year disease-specific survival rates of 100% and 100%, respectively. Early diagnosis is the key to improving the prognosis of lung cancer. In order to further improve the level of early lung cancer diagnosis in China, especially the standardization in the diagnosis and evaluation of pulmonary nodules and early lung cancer, experts from the Lung Cancer Group of Chinese Thoracic Society formulated the "Chinese Expert Consensus on Diagnosis of Early Lung Cancer (2023 Edition)", on the basis of the actual situation in the field of diagnosis and treatment, with reference to the latest research data and relevant guidelines at home and abroad. Consensus on the application of artificial intelligence, big data and robotics, the Internet of Things and multidisciplinary cooperation in the diagnosis of early lung cancer, the management of pulmonary nodules and follow-up strategies for suspected early lung cancer, etc., were respectively recommended to provide references for clinicians in the diagnosis of early lung cancer, in order to further promote the early diagnosis of lung cancer in China.