Mediastinal staging of nonsmall cell lung cancer: what's new?

In this review, we explore the importance of accurate mediastinal staging in nonsmall cell lung cancer, which directly impacts management options and prognosis. We outline the various means of staging, including radiological and interventional techniques, with a focus on the advantages and limitations of the different approaches. The review also identifies ways in which mediastinal staging has changed over time, particularly with the advent of effective endoscopic nodal sampling, and how emerging research and developments may lead to further adjustments in clinical practice. The role of multidisciplinary decision making, particularly in complex cases, remains integral to the process of mediastinal staging in lung cancer.